Today, 21 November 2019, the Federal Court gave judgment in the long-running class action against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson Medical for the sale and use of polypropylene vaginal mesh for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and polypropylene tape for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

The three women who brought the class action on behalf of themselves and the many women who received these devices were successful. It is a momentous decision. Many women can now see light at the end of the tunnel. Women could not understand how anyone could think it was a good idea to shove sheets of plastic into the female pelvis to treat prolapse. They believed it was wrong. Now with Justice Katzmann’s 1500 page judgment, they no doubt feel vindicated.