Birth Control Lawsuit Attorney in Kentucky
Birth control, notoriously referred to as “the pill,” has been the subject of numerous class action and product liability lawsuits in the past. It is also a common lawsuit for medical malpractice claims, when physicians fail to monitor their patients or warn them of the side-effects.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 62 percent of women of reproductive age are using a form of contraception. Of those using the method, the most common is birth control pills, which accounts for 28 percent of women in the interview, as of 2012. In another survey, the CDC estimates that the percentage of women aged 15 to 44 using the pill is 16 percent, while long-acting reversible contraception (devices) accounts for 7.2 percent and sterilization accounts for 15.5 percent.
The lawsuits over birth control pills vary. Some result in massive numbers of injured women, and a few resulted in deaths. Regardless, any woman taking an oral contraceptive should speak with her healthcare provider to understand the potential risks of the pill, and should do regular checkups to ensure she is healthy enough to continue with that form of birth control.
Common Lawsuits Against Birth Control Pills
1. Birth Control Caused Blood Clots
Birth control is used to control unwanted pregnancies. The pills are taken every day, at the same time of day, and they contain hormones. Typically, the hormones in these pills consist of estrogen and progestin in synthetic form. One form of synthetic progestin, drospirenone, is an ingredient that stirred controversy over the potential cause of blood clots.
Two brands in the United States used the synthetic form, including Yaz and Yasmin. Studies found that women who were taking this type of progestin were more likely to develop blood clots than women taking the other types of progestin. They found that the risk was as common as 10 women for every 10,000 taking the pill.
The lawsuits were based on how the brands ignored warnings from the FDA, and both brands promoted themselves as a safer alternative to other birth control pills. Also, the company had misleading information and failed to communicate the risk of blood clots.
2. Mislabeled Birth Control
There was also an instance where a pharmaceutical manufacturer mislabeled birth control and a few hundred women became pregnant as a result. The company had issued a recall because of a packaging error, which rotated the pills in the wrong direction – allowing women to take the inactive pills during high fertility.
The women in this lawsuit sued for the cost of the babies, as well as the costs associated with raising the children of unplanned pregnancies up until the children were 18 years old.
3. Unknown or Misleading Side-Effects
All medications carry a risk of side-effects. However, physicians’ jobs are to inform their patients about the potential side-effects, and help the patient weigh the risks of side-effects to the benefits of the medication.
When a physician does not properly inform the patient, and he or she experiences side-effects, the physician is liable for those side-effects and injuries. If a manufacturer does not warn the public about potential side-effects, it could be liable for any injuries or damages as a result.
Were You Injured by a Defective Medication or Failed to Receive an Informed Consent?
If you suffered injuries because of a defective medication, or if your physician did not warn you of the potential side-effects before taking a medication, you may be entitled to compensation. To explore your legal options, contact the Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC. Attorney Seth Gladstein will serve as your advocate against drug companies and physicians who fail to look out for the best interests of their patients.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation now by calling his office today or request a consult online.
