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More than 2,000 Kugel mesh lawsuits have been filed, maker says |
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
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A report filed with the federal government by C.R. Bard Inc. has revealed that more than 2,000 people have already filed lawsuits against the maker of the Composix Kugel Mesh hernia patch. The Kugel patch underwent three separate recalls between December 2005 and January 2007 due to a design flaw that could lead to serious and potentially fatal injuries.
According to Bard’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 580 federal and 280 state lawsuits have been filed on behalf of about 2,135 former Kugel patch users as of February 2008. In addition, nine hernia patch lawsuits seeking class action status on behalf of Kugel users have also been filed.
Several models of the Kugel hernia patch were recalled between 2005 and 2007 due to problems with the “memory-recoil ring” that surrounds the patch and holds it in place. In larger versions of the Kugel patch, this ring could break and cause serious injuries. Patients who suffered a broken memory recoil ring could suffer bowel perforation, bowel obstruction, chronic enteric fistulas or other symptoms. |