News Summary: Jury awards $3.35 M in implant suit

Lawyers in the case of former surgeon Jayant Patel are in a race to tie up all legal loose ends.
Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, Ga., left, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, right, listen to Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., not pictured, tell her story during an interview about complications from having surgical mesh placed in her pelvic cavity, in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., sits down to tell her story about complications from having surgical mesh placed in her pelvic cavity, during an interview in her attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. Waits is one of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, Ga., left, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, embrace after telling their stories about complications from having surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities following an interview in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., left, Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, right, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, front, all of whom had surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities, are photographed in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., left, Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, right, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, front, all who had surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities, are photographed in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
HOLD FOR LYNN ELBER STORY/PERMISSION - FILE - In this February 2008 publicity image released by CBS Entertainment, host Drew Carey hosts pauses during a taping of of "The Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular," one of six new specials to be broadcast on Fridays, beginning Feb. 22, 2008, on the CBS Television Network. A Los Angeles jury says a former model on "The Price is Right" was discriminated against by producers because of her pregnancy. The Superior Court jury awarded nearly $777,000 to Brandi Cochran on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/CBS, Monty Brinton, File) ** MANDATORY CREDIT. NO ARCHIVE. NO SALES. NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY. **
Five potential jurors are being questioned further about possible bias against Jayant Patel.
Repeat hospital stays that could have been avoided are all too commonplace for the nation's elderly. They're costing billions and prompting hospitals and patients to get creative to avoid the revolving door. (Feb. 11)

Lawyers in the case of former surgeon Jayant Patel are in a race to tie up all legal loose ends.

Lawyers in the case of former surgeon Jayant Patel are in a race to tie up all legal loose ends.
Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, Ga., left, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, right, listen to Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., not pictured, tell her story during an interview about complications from having surgical mesh placed in her pelvic cavity, in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., sits down to tell her story about complications from having surgical mesh placed in her pelvic cavity, during an interview in her attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. Waits is one of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, Ga., left, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, embrace after telling their stories about complications from having surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities following an interview in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., left, Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, right, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, front, all of whom had surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities, are photographed in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lynn Waits, 55, of Covington, Ga., left, Susan Harrison, 63, of Lawrenceville, right, and Vea Gaby, 73, of Athens, front, all who had surgical mesh placed in their pelvic cavities, are photographed in their attorney's office, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Athens, Ga. The Georgia women are some of the thousands of women nationwide who have sued manufacturers of the surgical mesh, claiming they’ve suffered severe complications and intense physical pain when the flexible plastic mesh hardened inside their bodies. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
HOLD FOR LYNN ELBER STORY/PERMISSION - FILE - In this February 2008 publicity image released by CBS Entertainment, host Drew Carey hosts pauses during a taping of of "The Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular," one of six new specials to be broadcast on Fridays, beginning Feb. 22, 2008, on the CBS Television Network. A Los Angeles jury says a former model on "The Price is Right" was discriminated against by producers because of her pregnancy. The Superior Court jury awarded nearly $777,000 to Brandi Cochran on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/CBS, Monty Brinton, File) ** MANDATORY CREDIT. NO ARCHIVE. NO SALES. NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY. **
Five potential jurors are being questioned further about possible bias against Jayant Patel.
Repeat hospital stays that could have been avoided are all too commonplace for the nation's elderly. They're costing billions and prompting hospitals and patients to get creative to avoid the revolving door. (Feb. 11)

News Summary: Jury awards $3.35 M in implant suit

Print Page Updated: 12:32:58 AM, Tue 26 February 2013

BIG VERDICT: A New Jersey jury ordered & to pay compensatory damages of $3.35 million to a former nurse who blames its vaginal mesh implant for years of severe pain despite 18 unsuccessful repair surgeries.

COMPANY COMMENT: J&J says there's always risk in surgery to lift drooping pelvic organs. It plans to present more evidence when the jury on Tuesday begins considering punitive damages. It's stopped selling the implant.

THE BACKDROP: Dozens of companies made the mesh implants, once touted as safer than traditional surgery, and thousands of women are suing over pain, infections and other complications.

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