According to reports, more than 10,000 individuals have filed Yaz lawsuits against Germany-based Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the well-known birth control pill, Yaz. According to reports, both the drug and Yasmin may cause stroke and blood clots, heart and blood disorders, and other serious side effects.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process. The time to pursue a claim is limited, so contact us today.
History of Yaz
A panel from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to strengthen the warning labels on the birth control pills in December 2008. In fact, the black-box warning, the most serious label that the FDA can provide, appears on the packaging for both medications. The warning cautions women about the risk of smoking while taking the birth control pills as it has been reported to cause an increased risk of developing serious cardiovascular side effects.
Plaintiffs Report Adverse Side Effects
Although the contraceptive gained enormous popularity after its introduction in the U.S. in 2006, patients began to report side effects shortly after taking the medication. Not only was the drug intended to prevent pregnancy, it was also marketed by the manufacturer as a successful way to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and acne. All of the reasons combined were what made Yaz and other similar drugs such as Yasmin and Ocella so favorable.
Yasmin, Bayer’s low-dose alternative, and Ocella, a generic version marketed and manufactured by different companies, are also under investigation because of severe side effects, despite the differences of the dosages and drugs.
Plaintiffs allege that these contraceptives cause:
- Gallbladder diseases
- Strokes
- Pulmonary embolisms
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Heart attacks
Additionally, the FDA’s reporting system indicated that patients were suffering from other serious side effects including embolisms, blood clots, gallbladder problems, hyperkalemia, hyponatremis, electrolyte imbalance, heart arrhythmias, and sudden death in patients taking the medication.
Bayer’s Questionable Marketing Tactics
It is typically understood that manufacturers of drugs have two responsibilities when creating medications for consumers. First, they are responsible for manufacturing safe products while accurately warning the public about the potential risks associated with the drug. Second, they are responsible for advertising the drug correctly without knowingly providing misconceptions or falsehoods to consumers. According to plaintiffs, Bayer did not meet either of these requirements.
Some consumers may remember the popular “Balloons” and “Not Gonna Take It” commercials marketing the drug; some may even remember that these advertising promotions changed later down the road after the FDA ruled that they were inaccurate and dangerous. The FDA acknowledged that these marketing tactics wrongly suggested that the medication was a safe, effective, and approved method to treat acne and PMS of all degrees. In reality, however, the drug was only approved as a way to treat moderate acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). While the drug was indeed a contraceptive, the FDA reported that the manufacturer overemphasized the effectiveness of the drug to treat the conditions.
The FDA told the manufacturer that they had also downplayed the risks of the taking the medication; the commercials’ visual and audio effects distracted the audience from gaining knowledge regarding the most vital part of the commercial. Bayer used fast-changing scenes and catchy background music to take the viewers’ minds off of the part where the commercial addresses the risks of the medication.
Although Bayer did change its marketing tactics, there were still issues with how the manufacturer disclosed information regarding its product. Three years following the FDA’s concern about the advertising methods, a document confirmed that studies of Yaz had raised concerns regarding the safety of the drug and its related medications. Additionally, physicians have also recommended better labeling methods and more safety testing to warn consumers about additional possible risks.
Yaz Lawsuits Increase
Plaintiffs allege that Bayer used these false statements in their marketing and advertising campaigns to downplay the side effects of the birth control medication. In fact, the number of Yaz lawsuits filed against Bayer has grown so high that a multi-district legislation is now in place to sort through all of the claims related to Yaz and Yasmin.
Thousands of women were injured and over 100 deaths were reported as the result of using these birth control medications. Additionally, Bayer was charged with neglecting to highlight the serious risks associated with the pills. Other claims include fraud and deceit, medical monitoring, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, negligence, breach of express and implied warranties and strict product liability.
As of October 2012, Bayer has successfully settled almost 3,500 Yaz lawsuits for an estimated $750 million, according to Reuters.
How Yaz Lawsuits Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
If you or someone you love is taking Yaz as a form of birth control and have suffered from serious, adverse side effects, contact Attorney Group for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
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