Mesh News Desk: October Turns and the Falls Ahead

Fall leaves

Mesh Medical Device News Desk, October 2, 2016 ~ Welcome to Mesh Medical Device News Desk. I feel as though we are entering the final phase of 2016. It has streamed by at lightning speed, time seems to be running faster all of the time.

If you are new to the mesh mess, welcome! Mesh News Desk (MND) has been covering this issue for five years now.

We are not beholden to any influences here, just coverage that is in the public interest. Advertisers or sponsors are clearly labeled. I look forward to receiving any essays by you all - doctors, lawyers, mesh-injured, observers of this phenomena.

This is not medical or legal advice and you should always check with your professionals, but time and time again we hear from women who express the same issues - their law firms are not talking to them, their doctor is not responsive, or if he is, he is unable to remove the troubling mesh. Some patients are still even told mesh doesn't cause pain!

The wiser docs will ask, "Did you have pain before the mesh? Did you have autoimmune issues, rashes, Lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic infections and UTIs? If not, it could be the mesh. Do you think?

I just returned from the American Urogynecologic Society's annual meeting in Denver where about 1,300 urogynecologists gathered to learn the latest their profession has to offer. I registered with my name and yes, paid membership to do so. Members are allowed to take photos and use them as they want.

Many stories will be generated from that visit and I plan to be fair to both sides. I'm convinced there are urogynecologists who have no idea that thousands of women are suffering? How could they? AUGS had no information about the abyss many women find themselves living in - the inability to function any longer and a loss of health. Lives altered, some permanently.

AUGS members who sat in one session listened to a plaintiffs' lawyer talk about the issues. But there were only 20 folks there. By the next day there was scheduled to be an expanded Mesh Debate with lawyers from both sides of the issue. On second thought, the society decided that wasn't such a good idea and the session was cancelled that morning. The purported reason was the slides weren't submitted in time, that is, in time to be vetted by the society lawyers.

AUGS decides the session was not in its best interest, said an AUGS employee. The society wanted to avoid exposure to its corporate sponsors, and there are many, said one doctor in the know. What a shame. It was to be held in the largest room and it was a good idea, though the format might have been a bit contentious - a mock trial was the format. A little too close for comfort.

There no doubt are doctors who would be open to the message that there are many truly injured women, not just those looking for a payday. I look for ways to connect with those doctors because they are in the key positions to bring about change. Operating with blinders on is not serving their patients in the long run.

Jane Akre, Editor, Mesh News Desk

I look forward to any thoughts from readers on how to bring about this change.

Meanwhile, stay tuned, stay well, learn from each other. Life for many has gotten better after they followed the course that was right for them. Please feel free to share you experience. You can write anonymously and your names are never shared.

Stay well friends,

Jane Akre, Editor

MND