Chicago Birth Control Injury Attorneys

Approximately 65 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 use contraception, including various birth control medications or devices. The main reason women use birth control medications or devices is to avoid pregnancy. But some women use them to treat health issues, such as severe menstrual cramps, irregular periods, or endometriosis. Whatever the reason, if you are one of the millions of women who use a birth control medication or device, you expect it to work safely and effectively.

Unfortunately, some birth control medications and devices do not work properly and can cause severe complications. Some have significant risks, and doctors should not prescribe them in certain circumstances. Some doctors might believe a medication or device is safe when it is not. In some cases, a pharmaceutical company fails to test a drug or device adequately or fails to warn doctors or the public fully about their risks.

If a birth control medication or device has injured you, please contact the Chicago dangerous drugs attorneys of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC at 312-346-8620 to learn more about your options. You shouldn’t have to worry about paying for the medical care you need to treat your injuries if those injuries were someone else’s fault.

When you call us, you’ll get a free consultation with one of our birth control injury lawyers, who can advise you about how you can pursue the compensation you deserve to cover your injury-related expenses and help you regain your peace of mind.

What Are Birth Control Medications and Devices?

Most birth control medications or devices work using hormones. Some ways these hormones work are by tricking a woman’s body into believing it is already pregnant, stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs, or changing the lining of a woman’s uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. Most birth control works this way, whether taken orally, by injection, or by an implanted device. In some people, these medications or devices cause grave health complications.

What Are Some Birth Control Medications and Devices Linked to Injury?

Yaz and Yasmin are types of popular birth control pills. At one time, Yaz was the number one birth control pill in the United States. They contain a combination of hormones that stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. They also thicken the mucus lining of the cervix, making it harder for sperm to fertilize an egg. The FDA has also approved Yaz to treat acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a condition that causes depression and anxiety before a woman’s period. The hormone drospirenone that is used in the pills increases a woman’s risk of developing blood clots. Both contraceptives can also cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Bayer, which manufactures Yaz and Yasmin, has budgeted $1.6 billion for lawsuits related to those medications.

Depo Provera is often called the “depo shot.” It is an injected prescription of progesterone, and a woman must receive an injection every three months for effective birth control. Depo Provera and other injected birth control prescriptions can cause pseudotumor cerebri, which causes harmful effects similar to a brain tumor. Another detrimental effect is damage to the optic nerve, causing vision loss.

NuvaRing, which Merck & Co. manufactures, is a small circular ring used as a birth control device. It contains etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It increases the risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack. In September 2014, Merck & Co. settled a national class-action lawsuit over NuvaRing dangers for $100 million.

Mirena is an intrauterine device that the Bayer company manufactures. Like Depo Provera, it is also linked with pseudotumor cerebri, causing fluid buildup in the skull. Mirena has also perforated the uterus and damaged organs in some women.

Essure is a device consisting of flexible coils placed in the fallopian tubes. It works as birth control because the body produces tissue around the coils, preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. Women have experienced severe complications from the devices, such as perforated organs and broken devices migrating through their bodies. The device migration has also allowed pregnancy and caused fetal death. In August 2020, Essure manufacturer Bayer announced it budgeted $1.6 billion toward settling Essure lawsuits.

You Might Have a Case

You trusted your doctor to know all the possible side effects of a birth control medication, warn you about those side effects, and only prescribe the drug or device if the doctor believed it was safe. You also trusted the pharmaceutical company to properly test medications and disclose all known side effects so doctors and patients can make informed decisions. If a birth control medication or device injured you, you might have a claim against your doctor or the pharmaceutical company.

Doctors owe a duty of care to their patients. You could have a claim against your doctor if they failed to use the appropriate medical standard of care to learn about the medication or device, prescribe it to you, or warn you about the possible side effects.

Pharmaceutical companies owe customers a standard of care. They must properly test drugs and devices according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards before releasing them to the market.

Pharmaceutical companies will try to blame your doctor for improperly prescribing or failing to warn you of the dangers. Your doctor (or insurance company) may blame the manufacturer for failing to disclose or minimizing risks. An experienced dangerous drug product liability attorney can help you determine who is at fault for your injury, investigate your situation, and gather evidence to support your claim for compensation.

Compensation Available for Birth Control Injuries

Complications from birth control medications or devices can lead to severe injuries or death. If you were injured by one of these drugs or devices, your attorney could work to prove that you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries and injury-related losses. Those losses might include:

• Medical bills related to your injuries, including the cost of future care
• Lost income from missed work due to your injuries and health complications
• Pain and suffering, including physical pain as well as emotional suffering

You can pursue the compensation you deserve by filing a lawsuit against a doctor, pharmaceutical company, or another liable party.

Contact Us

If a birth control medication or device injured you, contact the Chicago dangerous drug attorneys of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC at 312-346-8620 for a free consultation.

We will review your case and advise you about your legal options. If you have a case, we’ll guide you through the next steps. Our experience will help us evaluate the best way to protect your rights, whether through a personal injury claim, a medical malpractice case, or a product liability case.

We want to help get you the compensation you deserve. Call us now at 312-346-8620 or contact us online to arrange your confidential consultation.