>>INFORMATION: Yaz and Yasmin Litigation

The Yasmin and Yaz litigation involves claims against Bayer Healthcare for failing to adequately research their popular birth control pills or warn users and the medical community about the potential increased the risk that women may suffer a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease or sudden death.

Last October, all federal Yasmin and Yaz cases were consolidated and centralized in the Southern District of Illinois for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation.

According to an order issued last week by Chief Judge David Herndon, plaintiffs and defendants involved in the cases must preserve all potentially relevant documents, data and tangible things within their possession, custody or control. For individuals pursuing cases, this could include:

• Labels
• Bottles and containers
• Product packaging and inserts
• Paper documents or electronic information about your use of Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, or regarding injuries caused by the drugs
• Paper or electronic documents pertaining to Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella litigation
• Medical and pharmacy records of medical expenses related to the use of Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella

For clients with questions about this preservation, please contact our office to review this in further detail. Individuals who have not yet spoken to an attorney about a potential lawsuit for Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, you can request a free consultation or call our office toll free.

YAZ AND YASMIN LITIGATION LAWYERS

The Yasmin and Yaz lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential birth control lawsuits for women who have suffered an injury that may have been caused by side effects of these drugs, such as:

• Stroke or Heart Attack
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death on Yaz

Both Yasmin and Yaz contain a combination of the hormones ethinyl estradiol (estrogen) and drsp or drospirenone (progestin). Although other birth control pills are combined hormonal oral contraceptives, drospirenone is unique to Yaz, Yasmin and the generic drug Ocella.

The serious health problems linked to Yaz and Yasmin side effects may be caused by drospirenone. It causes the body to retain potassium, which can lead to hyperkalemia. This can cause an increased risk of Yasmin and Yaz heart problems and other health concerns.

To find out if you, a friend or family member may have a potential case, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The estimated number of Yasmin and Yaz cases that may be filed comes from a recent article with U.S. District Chief Judge David Herndon in the Belleville News-Democrat, which serves the East St. Louis, Ill.-area, where the federal Yaz litigation is consolidated.

Judge Herndon is presiding over pre-trial litigation and discovery in the federal Yasmin and Yaz suits filed on behalf of women throughout the United States, and will likely conduct the first trials. Known as “bellwether” cases, these early Yaz trials will help gauge how juries are going to respond to the evidence that will be presented throughout all of the cases and potentially lead to a settlement of the Yaz and Yasmin claims.

All of the suits involve nearly identical allegations that Bayer failed to adequately research their medications and warn women about the risk of potential problems from Yaz and Yasmin birth control.

Yaz and Yasmin (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) are once-a-day birth control pills approved by FDA to prevent unwanted pregnancy and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); a more severe version of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Drospirenone, unique to Yaz, Yasmin, and the generic version, Ocella, is a new type of progestin that has been found to increase blood potassium levels. This can result in a condition known as hyperkalemia, which can cause Yaz heart problems and death.

When the Yaz and Yasmin suits were first consolidated under Judge Herndon on October 1, 2009, by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, there were only 32 complaints filed. However, there are now about 300 cases pending before Judge Herndon and with thousands of other cases still being investigated and reviewed throughout the United States. Therefore, it is very realistic to expect that 25,000 or more suits may eventually be filed.

According to the article in the Belleville News-Democrat, the Yaz and Yasmin birth control lawsuits will likely take more than two years to work through the court system, and it could be the largest MDL ever assigned to the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis.

YASMIN AND YAZ BIRTH CONTROL LAWYERS

The Yasmin and Yaz birth control lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for women who believe that they may qualify for a potential Yaz suit or Yasmin suit. To review a potential claim and determine if compensation may be available, request a free consultation and case evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: NuvaRing Birth Control Lawsuits

The NuvaRing attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent a number of women who have filed a NuvaRing lawsuit over problems caused by the vaginal birth control ring. The complaints allege that Organon failed to adequately warn about the increased risk of blood-clots from NuvaRing, which could cause a heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or death.

Nearly 16 months ago, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established a federal MDL for the litigation over NuvaRing, consolidating all cases before Judge Sippel to promote efficient handling of the cases during pretrial litigation. However, little progress has been made towards a resolution or ultimate trial dates in the cases due to the tactics of Organon to put off discovery.

Last year, Organon asked the court to require plaintiffs to file a Master Complaint encompassing all of the cases, which plaintiffs eventually consented to. However, Organon then filed a motion to dismiss the litigation on grounds that the Master Complaint lacked specificity. Since neither the Plaintiffs or the Court intended the Master Complaint to be subject to pleading challenges, Judge Sippel denied their Motion to Dismiss and disbanded the Master Complaint.

Since that time, Organon has been filing individual Motions, asking the Court to review each allegation in every complaint and apply the particular laws of individual states regarding the sufficiency of the pleadings.

In an order denying those motions, which was issued last week, Judge Sippel wrote: (citations omitted)

The primary purpose behind assigning multidistrict litigation to a transferee court is to promote efficiency through the coordination of discovery. The Panel on Multidistriction Litigation created this centralized action based on the shared allegations in the individual complaints relating to the manufacture, sale and safety profile of NuvaRing. These core claims are based on similar products liability causes of action asserted in all the individual complaints including failure to adequately warn claims and design defect claims.

Instead of devoting its energy to promoting the efficient coordination of discovery, Organon has decided, through motions practice, to request that I review all 223 (and counting) individual complaints and rule on whether each claim in each complaint comports with federal and state pleading requirements. Organon minimally concedes in its papers that some products liability claims will most likely survive dismissal, but seeks to excise what it deems to be ‘junk claims and meritless allegations’ from each complaint.

Judge Sippel went on to agree with Organon’s tentative concessions, finding that the complaints would survive challenges to the core product liability claims that were the basis of the MDL formed by the Judicial Panel in August 2008. Since dozens of individual complaints reviewed state plausible warning and design product liability claims, Judge Sippel unlocked the doors of discovery.

NUVARING ATTORNEYS

As the filed cases move forward, the attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential new claims for women who may be entitled to compensation through a NuvaRing lawsuit. Potential claims are being reviewed for users who have experienced problems with NuvaRing, including:

• Blood Clots
• Pulmonary Embolysm
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Death

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation with a NuvaRing attorney.

>>INFORMATION: Yaz and Yasmin Side Effects

The Yaz attorneys and Yasmin attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent women throughout the United States who have suffered severe injuries as a result of their use of the popular birth control pills, such as strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), gallbladder problems and wrongful death. However, many consumers remain unaware of the risks of Yaz and Yasmin, and the safer alternatives that may be available.

In its latest issue of their newsletter Worst Pills, Best Pills, the nonprofit consumer watchdog group released recommendations that women should avoid any oral contraceptives that contain the progestins drospirenone or desogestrel. The recommendation follows recent studies that showed users of the newer birth control pills containing the two progestins had a higher risk of blood clots, with little additional benefits.

Desogestrel is available in a wide variety of birth control pills. Drospirenone is a new form of progestin only available in Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical’s Yaz, Yasmin and Yasminelle oral contraceptives, as well as the generic Ocella. The unique progestin may cause the body to retain potassium, which can lead to hyperkalemia, increasing the risk of heart problems and other health issues.

Public Citizen points to two large new studies, which are also highlighted in hundreds of Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits filed throughout the country, that confirm users of birth control pills containing drospirenone face an increased risk of blood clots compared to women taking second-generation birth control pills.

In the report, Public Citizen recommends:

If you are taking an oral contraceptive that contains drospirenone or desogestrel, talk to your doctor about your birth control options. The safest alternatives are second generation pills that contain low-dose estrogen and levonorgestrel, norgestrel or norethindrone such as the combination levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, or the brand names LEVORA and TRIVORA.

YAZ AND YASMIN ATTORNEYS

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential Yasmin and Yaz lawsuit claims as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to warn about the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening problems. Cases are being reviewed throughout the United States and there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained. To speak with a Yaz or Yasmin attorney, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>JPML LINK (PDF): Yasmin / Yaz MDL Order

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1407, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation can consolidate and centralize pretrial proceedings for related actions. The MDL process is designed to eliminate duplicative discovery that is common to many cases, avoid inconsistent pretrial rulings on similar issues and to serve the convenience of the witnesses, parties, attorneys and the judiciary.

In the Yasmin / Yaz litigation, there are currently at least 32 federal lawsuits pending throughout the United States in at least 9 different districts. However, all of the cases involve common allegations that Yaz or Yasmin, two similar birth control pills manufactured by Bayer that both contain the new progestin drospirenone, caused the plaintiff to suffer severe or fatal injuries, such as heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease or sudden death.

Unlike a class action lawsuit, where a large group of people collectively bring one claim through a class representative, an MDL is the combination of a large group of individual claims for coordinated discovery and scheduling. In fact, this litigation will involve at least one Yaz class action suit among the individual cases, filed on behalf of a nationwide class of purchasers of the birth control pill who claim that compensation is owed as a result of false, misleading and fraudulent advertisements.

Although the Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits from across the United States will be centralized in an MDL for pretrial litigation, and the discovery will share many attributes with how a class action lawsuit over Yaz or Yasmin would be handled, the cases remain individual claims. Each plaintiff retains their own Yaz / Yasmin attorney and maintains the right to present their case to a jury in the district where the case was originally filed.

YASMIN / YAZ ATTORNEYS FOR INDIVIDUAL INJURY CASES

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent women throughout the United States who have filed or intend to file a lawsuit over Yaz or Yasmin side effects, which Bayer failed to adequately research and warn about before aggressively marketing the birth control pill. Potential Yazmin and Yaz injury lawsuits are being investigated for women who have suffered:

• Strokes or Heart attacks
• Pulmonary emboli, or lung blood clots
• Deep vein thrombosis or DVT
• Gallbladder problems or gallbladder removal
• Wrongful death from Yaz or Yasmin

To review a potential case with our Yas / Yasmin attorneys on behalf of yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The Yaz and Yasmin lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of women who have suffered from side effects of the top-selling birth control pills. In addition to Yaz lawsuits and Yasmin lawsuits, potential Ocella lawsuits are also being investigated for users of the generic version of the drug, which contains the same new progestin, drosperinone.

As the New York Times article points out, the claims allege that side effects of the birth control pills with drosperinone increase the risk of blood clots, even when compared to other available forms of birth control pills.

Bayer knew or should have known about the risks, and failed to adequately research their drugs or warn about the potential danger. In addition, misleading Yaz advertisements were directed at consumers to encourage them to take the drug, by making false and misleading statements. This may have exposed women to the risk of Yaz and Yasmin problems, such as:

• Heart attacks and Strokes
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death

If you, a friend or family member have experienced health problems from Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

As of last month, there were about 50 different Yaz lawsuits or Yasmin lawsuits pending against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, spread among 12 different federal district courts in 9 states and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. All of the complaints involve similar allegations that the drug maker failed to adequately research their popular birth control pills or warn about the potential increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease and sudden death associated with Yaz and Yasmin.

A group of plaintiffs filed a motion to transfer and coordinate the Yaz/Yasmin litigation in July. Since that time, Bayer filed a response agreeing that the cases are sufficiently similar to each other to merit consolidation under the federal rules. The MDL panel will decide whether consolidation of all of the cases is appropriate and hear competing proposals from attorneys involved in the cases about where the litigation should be centralized for pretrial proceedings.

If a Yaz / Yasmin MDL is formed, all of the various lawsuits filed throughout the United States would be assigned to one judge, who would coordinate pretrial discovery and litigation in a manner similar to how a class action lawsuit would be managed. Although the cases would be consolidated, they remain an individual claims, and if a settlement or other resolution is not reached during pretrial litigation, the cases will be sent back to the court where they were filed for trial.

Similar coordination was recently established for all Yaz and Yasmin suits pending in Pennsylvania state court, where Bayer is based. The state court litigation has been consolidated for mass tort treatment in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia.

YASMIN AND YAZ ATTORNEYS

The Yaz / Yasmin attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to investigate new lawsuits for women who took a birth control pill containing drospirenone, the progestin found in Yaz, Yasmin and generic Ocella, and suffered:

• Heart attack or Stroke
• Deep Vein Thromosis
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Gallbladder Removal
• Wrongful Death

To determine if you, a friend or family member may be entitled to compensation, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>FDA LINK: Warning Letter About Manufacturing Problems with Yaz and Yasmin

Yaz and Yasmin are two popular birth control pills manufactured by Bayer that combine the active pharmaceutical ingredient drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol to prevent pregnancy. According to the FDA letter sent to the drug giant, several problems with the manufacturing process were identified at a plant in Germany where drospirenone was produced.

Instead of identifying batches of drugs that may be bad and preventing them from being released to the public, the FDA indicates Bayer took the results of these out-of-compliance drugs and hid them by averaging the numbers with good results. The FDA indicates that this is an “unacceptable practice” and stressed that each of the results should be treated independently.

The FDA said that at least nine batches of drugs, including batches of the progestin drosperinone used in Yas and Yasmin, were shipped to the United States when they should have never left the plant.

Although the FDA is not advising patients to stop using Yaz and Yasmin birth control, and Bayer denies that there are any quality issues with pills currently on the market, it appears that the FDA may be contemplating whether to recall Yaz and Yasmin pills made from batches of drospirenone that could be out-of-specification.

LAWSUITS OVER YAZ AND YASMIN PROBLEMS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. currently represent women throughout the United States who are pursuing a Yaz lawsuit or Yasmin lawsuit after suffering a heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, gallbladder problems or sudden death after taking the drug.

The allegations outlined in the FDA warning letter are not the first time that Bayer has run afoul of FDA regulations to put profits before consumer safety when selling these birth control pills. Early this year, Bayer agreed to spend $20 million on a corrective Yaz advertising campaign to address false and misleading statements in earlier ads.

Lawsuits over Yaz and Yasmin allege that Bayer failed to protect the public from certain dangers associated with their birth control pill by failing to properly research their medication or warn about the potential side effects. Drospirenone is unique to Yaz, Yasmin and a generic version sold as Ocella. The progestin increases blood potassium levlels, leading to hyperkalemia, which can result in various Yasmin and Yaz health problems even when it is manufactured properly.

Even before the FDA letter was released outlining Bayer’s failure to adhere to good manufacturing practices, many lawsuits filed against the company alleged that a Yaz recall and Yasmin recall should have been issued after the company began receiving post-marketing reports of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries associated with their drug.

If you, a friend or family member have suffered a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, gallbladder problems or sudden death after taking Yaz or Yasmin, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Yaz and Yasmin are currently among the most popular types of birth control sold in the United States, with Yaz accounting for 17.7% of the birth control market last year and Yasmin accounting for another 11%.

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent women throughout the United States who are pursuing a Yaz lawsuit or Yasmin lawsuit after suffering a blood clot injury, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke or death, as well as gallbladder disease.

Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits filed allege that Bayer failed to adequately warn about the increased risk of serious heart and health problems associated with their birth control when compared to other available pills. They not only minimized the blood clot risk with Yaz and Yasmin, but also heavily marketing the drugs through deceptive advertisements designed to encourage doctors and patients to use their birth control pill over other available forms that may not present as great of a risk.

While blood clots are a risk associated with all forms of birth control, this new birth control pill study provides further evidence that the Yaz and Yasmin blood clot problems are not the same as all other types of available birth control pills.

Researchers looked at 1,524 women between 18 and 50 who were diagnosed with a first deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the leg, which is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins, or pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot that travels through the blood stream and gets lodged near the lung, and compared them with 1,760 health women. The data indicates that women taking oral birth control pills had a fivefold increase in the risk of blood clots, but some hormones carry more risk than others.

When compared to women who were using no oral contraceptives, researchers found that users who took drospirenone, the progestin contained in both Yaz and Yasmin, had a 6.3 times greater risk of blood clots. By comparison, women who used birth control pills containing levonorgestrel had the lowest risk, with only a nearly 4 times increase over women taking no birth control.

YASMIN AND YAZ BLOOD CLOT LAWSUITS

The Yas and Yasmin lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing and investigating potential claims throughout the United States. As a result of the drug makers’ failure to adequately research the safety of these birth control pills and inadequate warnings provided to consumers and the medical community, many otherwise healthy women have suffered serious and life-threatening injuries.

To determine if you, a friend or family member may be eligible for a claim and compensation, request a free consultation and lawsuit evaluation.

>>MORE INFORMATION: Yaz Lawsuits

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating potential Yaz and Yasmin gallbladder lawsuits for women throughout the United States. Cases are also being pursued for women who have suffered severe blood-clot related injuries resulting in heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or death.

The makers of Yaz and Yasmin knew or should have known about the risk of gallbladder complications associated with their birth control pill, yet failed to adequately warn about the problems.

Yasmin was approved in 2001 with a combination of drospirenone, a progestin, and ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen. Yaz was approved five years later in 2006, and it is essentially the same drug, but contains a slightly higher amount of estrogen.

Before the introduction of Yasmin, no other birth control pill was marketed in the United States with drospirenone, which is unlike other progestins available. It is a diuretic, which creates unique risks with Yaz and Yasmin and could lead to serious gall bladder problems like gallbladder disease.

The gallbladder aids in the digestive process and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Symptoms of Yaz or Yasmin gallbladder problems could include:

• Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Bloating
• Jaundice

Despite substantial evidence of the potential Yaz and Yasmin gallbladder side effects, Bayer has sold the birth control pills without adequate warnings, exposing women to permanent and painful injuries. This may entitle women who have suffered an injury to financial compensation.

YASMIN AND YAZ GALLBLADDER LAWSUITS

The Yaz and Yasmin attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating potential cases on behalf of women who used the birth control pills and have been diagnosed with:

• Gallbladder Disease
• Gallbladder Complications
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Deep Vein Thrombosis

To review a potential case on behalf of yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The Yaz / Yasmin lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential lawsuits involving serious and life-threatening injuries caused by these popular birth control pills, and support the formation of an MDL, as it will benefit the women who have experienced Yasmin / Yaz problems.

The motion was filed Friday with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation asking that an MDL be formed for the Yasmin / Yaz litigation, and that all of the cases filed in different federal district courts throughout the United States be transferred to the Northern District of Ohio for coordinated handling.

The Judicial Panel will schedule a hearing to consider whether the cases all involve sufficiently common questions of law and fact, and whether the transfer and coordination will serve the best interests of the parties, the witnesses and the court. If consolidation is ordered, the court will then determine which district would be the most appropriate to oversee the pretrial litigation.

It is expected that consolidation will be ordered, as Yaz and Yasmin are essentially the same drug, both containing a combination of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. Yasmin was first developed in 2001 by Berlex Laboratories, which was later acquired by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Yaz was introduced in 2006 by Bayer with a slightly lower amount of ethinyl estradoil.

The drugs are the only oral birth control pills in the United States that contain the progestin drospirenone, which the lawsuits allege increases the risk of side effects like:

• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Gallbladder Disease
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Sudden Death

Consolidation will allow plaintiffs to pool their resources during pretrial litigation, eliminating duplicative discovery in hundreds or thousands of different cases and avoid inconsistent rulings by judges in different districts throughout the United States.

While most consumers consider MDL consolidation the same as a Yaz / Yasmin class action lawsuit, the cases are not permanently combined and do remain individual claims. Unlike a class action, each plaintiff’s damages are unique and it still must be established that their injuries were caused by side effects of the drug. Although the first trials, commonly referred to as “bellwether” cases, are often tried during pretrial litigation, if the other cases do not settle or otherwise resolve, they will returned back to the federal district where they were filed for individual trials.

YAZ AND YASMIN ATTORNEYS

Potential claims are being reviewed throughout the country for women who have suffered heart and other health problems from Yaz or Yasmin. All cases are pursued on a contingency fee basis, which means that there will be no fees or expenses until a recovery is obtained, and nothing is owed if compensation is not secured.

To review a potential claim with our Yaz and Yasmin attorneys for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>REVIEW A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT WITH OUR YAZ / YASMIN ATTORNEYS<<

Yaz and Yasmin both contain a combination of the hormones ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. The progestin drospirenone can increase blood potassium levels, causing a hyperkalemia, which is known to cause heart and other health problems.

Potential Yasmin and Yaz side effects may increase the risk of:

• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Blood Clots
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Death

A growing number of otherwise healthy young women throughout the United States have filed a Yaz lawsuit or Yasmin lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare and their predecessor, Berlex Laboratories, containing allegations that:

• The Yasmin and Yaz warnings fail to adequately inform users and the medical community of the potential risks and dangers associated with the birth control pill.
• The risk of potential Yasmin / Yaz problems have not been adequately researched.
• The risk of serious side effects from Yaz and Yasmin are higher than with other contraceptives that are older and safer.
• Individuals taking Yaz or Yasmin require more monitoring.
• A recall of Yaz and Yasmin should have been issued after it became apparent from post-marketing reports of adverse events that they are an unreasonably dangerous drugs.
• The drug makers encouraged misuse and overuse of Yaz and Yasmin while minimizing or failing to disclose serious side effects in an effort to maximize profits.
• Yasmin and Yaz were designed, tested, manufactured, marketed, produced, distributed and advertised negligently and improperly

All lawsuits will be reviewed by a Yasmin / Yaz lawyer with no fees or expenses charged unless a recovery is obtained. To find out if you, a friend or family member may have a case, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

On May 8, 2008, the Public Citizen Health Research Group filed a petition on behalf of 80,000 consumers urging the FDA to recall Ortho Evra within six months, pointing to problems with the birth control patch which result in greater variations of estrogen entering the blood stream. On average, the Ortho Evra birth control patch delivers 60% more estrogen than the birth control pill, which could lead to twice the risk of serious blood clots, which typically develop in the legs and could travel to the lungs and cause otherwise healthy women to die.

FDA has not taken any publicized action in response to the recall petition, and the birth control patch is still being marketed with warnings that many believe are inadequate in light of the risk of Ortho Evra side effects.

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for the FDA to take a year or more to act on a public health concern highlighted by Public Citizen.

In August 2006, Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to add a black box warning about potential tendon rupture side effects of Levaquin and other similar antibiotics. After the FDA failed to take any action on their petition after two years, the consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the FDA in February 2008, and warnings nearly identical to those requested by Public Citizen were finally added in July 2008.

Similarly, Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA in January 2008 asking for stronger warnings about potential Botox side effects, in which the toxin could spread from the injection site, causing breathing, swallowing or swelling problems that could be life threatening. It was not until April 2009 that the FDA announced that they were adding the requested “black box” warning.

Although prescriptions for Ortho Evra have fallen dramatically over the past five years due to concerns about the risk of birth control blood clots, it is still used by many women, with about 2.7 million prescriptions in 2007.

ORTHO EVRA RECALL LAWYERS

The Ortho Evra lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent women throughout the United States who have suffered a serious injury as a result of the birth control patch. For women who have experienced a heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis, compensation may still be available through an Ortho Evra lawsuit.

To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>Review a Potential NuvaRing Lawsuit

NuvaRing is a birth control ring that only has to be inserted once-a-month and releases low levels of estrogen to prevent pregnancy. However, it contains ethinyl estradol and etonogestrel, which is a third generation progestin that has been found to increase the risk of potentially life-threatening blood clots.

Otherwise health young women and the doctors who prescribe this medication deserve complete, fair and accurate warnings about the risk of NuvaRing problems.

Side effects of NuvaRing have been linked to increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart attacks, strokes and blood clot-related death, even when compared to other available methods of birth control.

The manufacturers of NuvaRing continue to provide inadequate warnings about this danger that prevent users and their doctors from making an informed decision about whether the benefits provided by the birth control ring out weigh the risk of potentially life-threatening side effects.

While the current warning label does mention a potential for blood clots or venous thrombosis, our NuvaRing lawyers argue that the warning appears insufficient and inadequate. These NuvaRing side effects should be featured more prominently on the warning label in a “black box” or bolded warning given the risk of disabling and fatal outcomes.

NUVARING LAWSUITS

If you, a friend or family member have suffered problems that may have been caused by the birth control ring, contact the NuvaRing attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. to review your legal rights and find out if financial compensation may be available. Free consultations are provided for individuals throughout the United States and there are no fees or expenses unless a recover is obtained. Request a confidential claim evaluation.