Three Women Join Together in Yaz Lawsuit

More than 12,000 Yaz lawsuits have been filed in courts throughout the United States by women who have suffered blood clots and other complications from the oral contraceptive. The newest such lawsuit was filed jointly by three women who claim to have suffered damaging side effects including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This joint complaint was filed against Bayer on October 25, 2012 in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California.

Plaintiffs make claims of negligence against Bayer

As in other Yaz lawsuits, the three plaintiffs in this case allege that Bayer failed to warn Yaz users about the risk of blood clots and other side effects from the contraceptive Yaz and its predecessor, Yasmin. The lawsuit brings claims of negligence, negligent misrepresentation, strict product liability, breach of implied and express warranties, and other actions.

FDA warns of dangerous Yaz side effects

Yasmin, the predecessor of Yaz, was approved in 2001, followed by Yaz. Both oral contraceptives contain a synthetic progestin known as drospirenone, which has been linked to blood clots and related conditions including stroke, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. In fact, in the four-year period from 2004 to 2008, more than 50 deaths related to Yaz were reported by the FDA. Click here for more information about Yaz and blood clots.

In December 2011, a 26-member FDA advisory panel met to hear testimony about Yaz, examine evidence from studies, and debate the question of whether the drug should be taken off the market. The panel voted to keep Yaz on the market, but to strengthen the warning on the label to inform users that“some epidemiologic studies have reported as high as a three-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for drospirenone-containing products.”

Bayer has already paid out more than $402 million to settle lawsuits alleging blood clots and related problems caused by Yaz, and has set aside another $610 million to settle pending lawsuits.

In addition to allegations of blood clots, strokes, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis, some plaintiffs in Yaz lawsuits claim to have suffered gallbladder disease, cancer, or other life-threatening side effects from the contraceptive.

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