Important Links, Resources, Support Mesh Related

THE READING ROOM

This is a great place to get started if you are new to the issues and experiencing complications which you can't explain following mesh implantation surgery.

Mesh Medical Device News Desk (MND)
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com

SUPPORT GROUPS

Mesh Medical Device News Desk Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/groups/142368339207055/

MDND Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mesh-Medical-Device-News-Desk/108924532565482

Mesh Awareness Movement
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MeshAwarenessMovement/

Medical Mesh Legal Support
http://www.facebook.com/groups/209955715772164/

Mesh Legal Support Page
https://www.facebook.com/MedicalMeshLegalSupport

Links on Mesh
http://www.facebook.com/groups/412960308757497/permalink/425718040815057/

Women's POP/SUI TVMesh Complications Support
https://www.facebook.com/groups/317477065098820/

West Coast Mesh Fighter US-based
https://westcoastmeshfighter.wordpress.com/

SurvivingMesh
http://www.facebook.com/SurvivingMESH

TVT Mum- UK site for mesh injured patients
http://www.tvt-messed-up-mesh.org.uk/

Meshies United Group - UK
http://www.meshiesunitedgroup.co.uk/

Meshed Up- European Union site for mesh sufferers in The Netherlands
http://www.meshedup.eu/

Australian Women’s Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/POPSurgicalMeshMuster

Mesh Down Under Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MeshDownUNDERsupport/

Australian Pelvic Mesh Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=australian%20pelvic%20mesh%20support%20group

Save Jacqui Scott New Zealand Medical Mesh
https://www.facebook.com/groups/526801670740510/

Sling The Mesh Campaign- UK Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/784263765025642/

Australian Women's Facebook Page on Mesh
http://www.facebook.com/POPSurgicalMeshMuster

Scottish Mesh Survivors
https://www.facebook.com/groups/113525082559374/

Earl Stevens' Blog on Artificial Hip Medical Devices
http://earlsview.com

Deb's NY Mesh Me Not
https://meshmenot.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/doctors-who-do-not-use-mesh/

Stand Up and be Counted Against Medical Mesh
https://www.facebook.com/groups/641561235885800/?sw_fnr_id=407829566&fnr_t=0

Change.org- Petition for Accountability by mesh Device Companies
http://www.change.org/petitions/fda-and-us-supreme-court-accoutability-of-med-device-companies-injurydeath-from-their-products

* Always be aware whether or not your resource comes directly from an industry source which while it may provide valuable information, may downplay adverse events or complications.

FDA

October 2008- Medical Device Alert and Notice, October 20, 2008 – FDA Public Health Notification about complications associated with surgical mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotifications/ucm061976.htm

July 2011- Alerts and Notice, July 13, 2011 – FDA Safety Communication: UPDATE on Serious Complications Associated with Transvaginal Placement of Surgical mesh for Pelvic Organ Prolapse,

This is a much more strongly worded caution about surgical mesh questioning whether benefit is worth the risk, but falls short of a recall. See symptoms the FDA has received from its adverse event database here.

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm262435.htm

FDA White Paper on Mesh, July 2011, an excellent summary
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/medicaldevices/safety/alertsandnotices/UCM262760.pdf

How to Post an Adverse Event with the FDA
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/?p=569

Institute of Medicine, July 29, 2011 – One hour briefing public discussion following a special independent report on the FDA’s 510(k) approval process
http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/iom/110729/globe_show/default_go_archive.cfm?gsid=1730

The IOM Report, July 29,2011 - The report calls the 510(k) process “fatally flawed”
www.iom.edu/510kprocess

PROFESSIONAL GROUPS

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) & American Urogynecological Society (AUGS) – Both professional societies issued a Joint Recommendations, November 21, 2011, that the use of synthetic mesh placed vaginally for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapsed “should be reserved for thigh-risk women for whom the benefit may justify the risk.” The groups urge a national registry to track outcomes after placement.
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr11-21-11-2.cfm

Patient POV
Journalist Laura Newman reports on medical issues from the patient point-of-view
http://www.patientpov.org/

CITIZEN ADVOCACY

Public Citizen- issued a petition August 25, 2011 to have synthetic surgical mesh recalled from the market.

Press release:
http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/pressroomredirect.cfm?ID=3405

Petition here:
http://www.citizen.org/documents/Petition_to_Ban_Surgical_Mesh_for_Transvaginal_Repair_of_Pelvic_Organ_Prolapse.pdf

Dr. Lewis Wall- Washington University
http://www.citizen.org/documents/wall_statement_on_POP_mesh_petition.pdf

Dr. Daniel Elliott – Mayo Clinic
http://www.citizen.org/documents/1963-Elliott_statement_in_support_of_HRG_petition.pdf

Consumers Union- November 15, 2011, In a letter to Congress, Consumers Union urges medical device oversight and a rigorous review by the FDA for implantable medical devices so they do NOT get approved by the 510(k) process. Also calls for a issued a call for a patient registry and removal from the predicate list any device that has been recalled.
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_health_care/018231.html

Consumers Union - Safe Patient Project
http://safepatientproject.org/topics/drugs_and_medical_devices/medical_device_safety