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Montana To Get $1.4 Million In Medical Device Settlement

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.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

Corin Cates-Carney is the Flathead Valley reporter for MTPR.