Lawsuit Says NuvaRing Birth Control Caused Pulmonary Embolism

By Sarah Pierce

 

A Pennsylvania woman has joined the growing number of NuvaRing blood clot victims suing the makers of NuvaRing birth control for failing to warn her and the public about the serious risks of developing blood clot injuries such as pulmonary embolism.

 

Plaintiff Alyssa Foster filed a NuvaRing blood clot lawsuit last month in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Defendants Organon, Akzo Nobel, Shering-Plough and Merck, claiming she suffered a pulmonary embolism due to her use of NuvaRing -- a ring that is inserted into the vagina once a month as a form of birth control. NuvaRing releases a number of hormones, including estrogen ethinyl estradiol and a third-generation progestin known as etonogestrel. This form of progestin has been associated with a heightened risk of blood clots and thrombotic events like deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke and sudden death. In fact, a recent study published in the British Medical Journal  found that NuvaRing users may be 6.5 times more likely to develop venous thrombosis than women who don't use birth control. More than 1,000 women have filed NuvaRing lawsuits after experiencing these side effects, and the number continues to grow. 

 

Foster claims in her NuvaRing lawsuit that she started using NuvaRing in February 2010. She claims she was not aware of the potential risk of blood clots linked to the product. Four months later in June 1010, Foster suffered a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot that travels to the lungs. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism are difficulty breathing, chest pain, rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure. Foster alleges in the NuvaRing blood clot lawsuit that the device makers knew or should have known the dangers associated with NuvaRing, but that they failed to warn doctors and patients of the risk of NuvaRing blood clot side effects to increase their profits. Foster's lawsuit will be transferred to the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) pending before Judge Rodney W. Sippel in the Eastern District of Missouri.

 

NuvaRing Lawsuit MDL

 

The NuvaRing lawsuit MDL is often a good choice for women hoping to bring a NuvaRing lawsuit because it allows thousands of NuvaRing blood clot victims to file lawsuits under the jurisdiction of one judge, but allows them to retain their own attorney and receive an individual award if the case is won or settled. The award they would receive in a NuvaRing lawsuit MDL is typically much larger than any individual award expected in a NuvaRing class action lawsuit. For example, in a NuvaRing class action lawsuit, hundreds of thousands of NuvaRing users are joined together. Once or if a NuvaRing class action settlement is reached, class members would typically share the award and the award may be in the thousands of dollars range per claimant, rather than tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in some cases for individual NuvaRing blood clot lawsuits. On the other hand, if the NuvaRing lawsuit MDL settles, everyone who joins the MDL would receive any financial award individually, unlike in a class action lawsuit. The NuvaRing lawsuit MDL lawyers will determine exactly what each Plaintiff will receive depending on the injury suffered. This may mean that those who file NuvaRing wrongful death lawsuits due to heart attack or stroke will receive more than those who successfully recovered from a NuvaRing heart attack or NuvaRing stroke. The NuvaRing law firms litigating the MDL will determine this as the case progresses.

 

NuvaRing Side Effects Cited in Lawsuits

 

Anyone who has used a NuvaRing contraceptive device needs to know the side effects so they can be caught and hopefully treated without resulting in death. Common NuvaRing side effects alleged in lawsuits include:

 

*heart attack

* pulmonary embolism

* deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

* stroke

* blood clots 

 

If you or a loved one has experienced a pulmonary embolism or any of these NuvaRing side effects, you may be able to collect significant compensation through a NuvaRing injury lawsuit. The first step is contacting a NuvaRing compensation consultant for a free legal consultation to see if you have a case. The medical expenses alone for any NuvaRing side effect could amount in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sadly some have died as a result of these side effects. Multiple NuvaRing wrongful death lawsuits have been filed by families who lost their loved one due to a NuvaRing heart attack, pulmonary embolism, stroke or other deadly NuvaRing side effect.

 

If you would like more information about filing a NuvaRing class action lawsuit or would like to file an individual NuvaRing lawsuit or join the NuvaRing lawsuit MDL, just go to the NuvaRing Birth Control Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. You can submit your information, or your loved one's, to NuvaRing attorneys who are actively investigating all claims regarding NuvaRing pulmonary embolism, blood clots, heart attack, stroke and other complications from taking NuvaRing birth control. NuvaRing attorneys are waiting to talk to you now and the consultation is free. NuvaRing lawyers don't get paid unless you win or settle.

 

Updated July 17th, 2012

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

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