Ethicon Seeks to Ban ‘Safety Principles’ Argument in Prolift Transvaginal Mesh Trial

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Ethicon Inc. has asked a West Virginia federal judge to ban arguments in a Prolift transvaginal mesh trial that it adopted, then violated, “safety principles” or “safety rules,” asserting that they usurp the court’s role in instructing the jury on the law.

In the March 3 brief, Ethicon further asserted that “aspirational standards which exceed the standard of care are not even admissible.” Trial began on March 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia before Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

Arizona resident Dianne M. Bellew alleges she was injured after …