Kathrine Ruffin is suing the makers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella after she suffered from blood clots that led to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms after about a year of using the controversial oral contraceptive.
This newest lawsuit will join the pending Illinois MDL, with Judge David R. Herndon presiding. The generic version of Yaz, Ocella, is mentioned specifically in the MDL, with the plaintiff alleging that the manufacturers knew or should have known the blood clot risks associated with Yaz use before selling it to the public. In this complaint, the plaintiff cites a report that was published in the British Medical Journal in 2002 as proof of the drug’s dangers. That report basically stated that Yaz use significantly increased the patient’s risks of developing a blood clot and blood clot-related injuries.
Some of those side effects linked to Yaz include pulmonary embolism, blood clots, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, gallbladder disease, kidney stones and irritable bowel syndrome. For the time being, the plaintiffs involved in the MDL are trying to reach a settlement agreement with Bayer, which has already paid out $402 million in settlements. Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are dangerous due to its main active ingredient drospirenone. Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin that is used in these fourth generation birth control pills like Yaz.
Failure to warn cases are becoming common place for drug companies like Bayer, which also make the generic version of Yaz and its sister drug, Yasmin. Even though Bayer has recently agreed to settle as many 1,500 cases against them for $110 million, the recent healthcare fraud case against Glaxo in which Glaxo pleaded guilty to the charges may go a long way toward getting other drug companies like Bayer be held liable in the product liability cases against them. With the settlement agreements being reached by Bayer, it looks as if the drug giant is finally conceding to the fact that their drug cause injury to patients.
