The Johnson & Johnson company has agreed to pay nearly $117 million in a multi-state settlement, including Montana, over allegations it deceptively marketed its pelvic mesh products.
The products, also called transvaginal mesh, are material surgically implanted in cases when a women’s pelvic organs have sagged or when they suffer from bladder leakage in certain situations due to stress urinary incontinence.
The Associated Press reports incontinence is estimated to affect 3 to 17 percent of women, and sometimes becomes severe after age 70.
According to the Montana Department of Justice, the 41-state investigation found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. misrepresented the safety and effectiveness of the devices and failed to sufficiently disclose risks of their use.
The Department says Montana will receive $1.4 million under the settlement.
