Yaz Side Effects Allegedly Caused Oklahoma Woman’s Arm Amputation

In 2007, Oklahoma resident Brandy Armantrout started taking the Bayer manufactured oral contraceptive Yaz. Feeling a tingling sensation in her left arm in December of 2012, she went to the hospital to learn that she didn’t have a pulse in her left wrist. In terrible pain, she was brought to another room, hooked up to intravenous units and watched as her hand turned black. The doctors couldn’t save her arm and it was amputated below her left elbow.

Armantrout, at age 32, was a wife and mother of a four-year-old girl and discovered that her medical coverage—Sooner Care and Medicaid—would not pay for a prosthetic limb as they only pay for such devices in people who are age 21 and under. Because of that, she decided to file a Yaz lawsuit to recover damages.

Woman seeks compensation to help pay for her prosthesis

According to her lawsuit, Yaz blood clots resulting in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) led to the amputation of her arm. In the event of a judgment or settlement in her favor, she would have money to pay for the cost of her prosthetic limb up to $80,000, medical expenses in the future, and physical therapy.

There have been a large number of lawsuits against Bayer because of side effects from Yaz and Yasmin due to DVT, pulmonary embolism and other issues they claim occurred because of their use of these medications. If she wins a jury award or the case is settled out of court, Armantrout is hoping that the money will assist her in paying for the prosthesis and other costs that have accompanied this unexpected medical issue.

Health problems have been linked to Yaz

These oral contraceptives have long been connected to DVT. DVT happens in the deep veins of the body. What happened to the plaintiff in this case is referred to as limb ischaemia and can result in excess pressure in the individual’s veins. This can cause severe infections (such as gangrene), ulcers in the legs, and tissue damage making amputation necessary.

Limb ischaemia hinders the flow of blood and delivery of oxygen and can also come loose and move to different parts of the person’s body resulting in severe medical issues that can be fatal. Pulmonary embolism, for example, happens when there is a blood clot in the lungs. A blood clot in the brain can cause a stroke. And a blood clot in the heart can cause a heart attack.

Any of these medical problems can lead to lifelong health challenges and all have been connected to the Bayer manufactured birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin.