Deep Vein Thrombosis Alleged by Five in Yaz Lawsuit

According to allegations in a Yaz blood clot lawsuit, defendant Bayer is liable for fraudulently representing to the healthcare community, the FDA and the public that its birth control pills Yasmin/Yaz were safe and effective. The plaintiffs contend that as a direct and proximate result of their use of the pills, they developed deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.  The lawsuit was filed by five women, who all took Yasmin or Yaz as prescribed by their doctors.

While residents of different states including Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Alabama, the women all suffered the same Yaz side effects which stemmed from blood clot formation in the deep veins of their legs. Each of the claimants has undergone several medical treatments and surgeries to treat their DVT and remain on blood thinning medication for the foreseeable future.

Blood clot-related injuries cited by thousands of Yaz users

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of Yasmin and Yaz in 2001 and 2006 respectively. Unlike their counterparts, both contraceptives are formulated with drospirenone – a fourth-generation progestin that has been linked to an increased rate of blood clot formation. At present, no other birth controls on the market contain drospirenone, with the exception of Ocella – the recently approved generic version.

The complaint states that as early as 2002, published medical literature has demonstrated a causal link between drospirenone exposure and high risk of venous thrombosis. In fact, Yaz blood clots were blamed for at least 50 deaths in the U.S. between 2004 and 2008 – fatal events that were all reported to the FDA. Bayer failed to adequately test its birth control pills and is liable for over-promoting their benefits while downplaying their potential risks, claims the plaintiffs’ Yaz lawyer.

Just like thousands of other women who’ve filed a Yaz blood clot lawsuit, these claimants say that Bayer knew or should have known that Yasmin and Yaz were unreasonably dangerous to consumers, yet the company placed profits over public safety by failing to warn of blood clot risks.

Yaz blood clot lawsuit demands compensation for pain & suffering

Court documents state that the five women have suffered physical injury and bodily impairment, in addition to mental anguish – all of which will continue to affect them throughout their lifetimes.

Eight causes of action are listed in the complaint including:

• Strict products liability – defective manufacturing
• Strict products liability – defects in design
• Strict products liability – defect due to inadequate warning
• Strict products liability – defect due to failure to adequately test
• Negligence
• Breach of express and implied warranty
• Negligent misrepresentation and or fraud
• Punitive damages

The plaintiffs are demanding a trial by jury and hope to recover damages for both economic and non-economic losses.

Bayer negotiates settlements with thousands of Yaz plaintiffs

This recent Yaz blood clot lawsuit is just one of thousands currently centralized in Illinois District Court before Judge David Herndon. The Yaz products liability multidistrict litigation (MDL 2100) was established to economize judicial resources and streamline pretrial proceedings. After mediation was ordered by Judge Herndon, Bayer began settling claims with more than 3,500 plaintiffs who alleged injuries ranging from gallbladder disease to stroke and pulmonary embolism. Cases that are not settled during MDL proceedings will be remanded to their original court for resolution.

Bayer has already paid out some $1 billion in Yaz lawsuit settlements, though the company denies any liability.