The vaginal mesh controversy has been building up in Canada for the past four months of this year, medical device industry observers in North America say. Factors affecting this may include the extra mileage given by the Canadian media and the recent legal developments in the United States. Last year, this problem was given considerable media exposure by one of the country’s news networks where it labeled the vaginal mesh injuries as one of the most troubling stories in Canada.

Happening within the last two months were three noteworthy events. The filing of a class-action suit by 300 Canadian women against various vaginal mesh manufacturers was reported by the Winnipeg Free Press in early February this year. Lawyers for these women have already started proceedings in Alberta to be followed in the other provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. Legal actions have also been started by another group composed of 700 Canadian women and this number may increase with more women expected to come forward to join the class-suit action.

Also a very significant development is the establishment of a website which has for its objectives the promotion of the cause of thousands of women affected by these vaginal mesh devices. Grouping together to form this website with the objective of creating awareness on the dangers of using vaginal mesh devices for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were three women from Saskatchewan who have also sustained injuries due to these devices. An effective voice and a unified stand against the use of vaginal mesh in Canada is what the group hopes to achieve.

They have been urging women to come forward with offers of moral support and taking a group effort in convincing the government in assisting them in the removal of these defective devices. Several women, like the organizers, have to shell out personal funds just to have the mesh removed in the Unites States since according to them; Government officials have not been very cooperative on this aspect. These women have to seek out other options for their problems because of the lack of qualified doctors and facilities in the country.

Highlighted by the group also is the fact that these devices are still being used on women to this date. It might be recalled that an advisory was issued by health officials similar to that of the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 informing the public and doctors of possible complications resulting from the use of these devices. Numerous reports of women having vaginal mesh surgeries as late as 2012 and even weeks ago have been received by the group.

A good example of this case would be that of Christine Asprey who had a vaginal mesh implanted only last year as part of her hysterectomy. Her struggle which included pain and suffering in the short period after the surgery has been widely covered by the Canadian media. Believed to be very helpful in the struggle against these devices for the impact it may have created was her recent participation in a protest action outside the Legislative Building in a wheelchair.

References:

transvaginalmesh.ca/Home_Page.php

winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/transvaginal-mesh-makers-to-face-lawsuits

winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-woman-wants-vaginal-mesh-removed