Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today filed a lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. for deceptively marketing transvaginal surgical mesh devices to women in Oregon by failing to disclose the dangerous complications sometimes arising from the devices. According to the complaint, at least 3,700 Oregon women had these devices implanted without J&J providing sufficient information to allow them to adequately weigh the risks and benefits of the full range of treatment options.

“Johnson & Johnson has blatantly put profits over the health of thousands of Oregon women,” said Attorney General Rosenblum. “If these woman and their doctors had been provided accurate information about the risks of these devices—by the company that well knew the risks—they may never have chosen to have them inserted in their bodies, resulting in all manner of painful, horrible outcomes.”

Surgical mesh is a synthetic fabric woven or knitted from polypropylene threads that is surgically implanted through the vagina. It is used to treat common conditions caused by weakened or damaged tissues and muscles in the pelvic floor area.

According to the complaint, “Johnson & Johnson marketed the surgical mesh to doctors and patients as minimally invasive with minimal risk, without disclosing the potential for permanent, debilitating complications. J&J did this despite being urged by its own medical advisors and employees to use different mesh in some of its devices and to warn doctors and patients of pain with intercourse, sexual dysfunction, and impact on quality of life.”

A full copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) is led by Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, and serves as the state’s law firm. The Oregon DOJ advocates for and protects all Oregonians, especially the most vulnerable, such as children and seniors.