Beware of Hernia Mesh Recalls

The next time you're reading a newspaper or surfing the Web, keep your eyes peeled for articles heralding "the next great medical breakthrough!" Researchers are making new discoveries at an astonishing rate, so it probably won't be long before you come across a report highlighting a new technique or medical device that will improve or save lives.

When you have a serious or debilitating condition, reading one of these types of stories relating to your particular illness can give you hope that you may not need to suffer much longer. Some years ago people with hernias who learned about promising new procedures using mesh-like materials to strengthen damaged tissue felt this hope. That hope was dashed for people who were given defective mesh products that ended up causing even more pain, complications and the need for additional surgeries.