In May 2016, Ethicon initiated a voluntary market withdrawal of its Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh after several patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair experienced complications with the product. Ethicon is owned by Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world with an estimated 250 subsidiary companies in 60 countries.
Lawsuits against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson allege the defendants allowed a defectively designed and manufactured product to market despite knowing full well the dangers their product could pose to patients. One of the main allegations against Ethicon is that the coating on either side of the mesh improperly bonds to internal organs and can cause serious adverse medical events.
