NuvaRing Lawsuits Look Toward Settlement as Health Canada Issues NuvaRing Contraceptive Warning
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) August 17, 2014 -- As Merck looks to settle thousands of NuvaRing lawsuits alleging deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms in the U.S. under MDL 1964, Wright & Schulte LLC reports that Health Canada recently ordered new user restrictions for the use of the contraceptive device manufactured by Merck Canada Inc. In its safety alert, Health Canada warns that women who have migraine headaches with vision problems or constant stomach pain due to problems in the pancreas along with high levels of fats in the blood should not use NuvaRing. There are currently 3,800 NuvaRing lawsuits pending in state and federal courts in the U.S. All of the NuvaRing complaints contend women suffered serious side-effects, including deep being thrombosis (blood clots in the legs), pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), strokes, heart attacks and death as a result of using the monthly contraceptive device. (In re: NuvaRing Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1964, JPML, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri)
[healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014
/40841a-eng.php, July 31, 2014]
Health Canada stated in its NuvaRing safety alert that the vaginal contraceptive ring should not be used by women who smoke and are over 35, or those who have more than one, or a serious form, of the following:
• heart problems
• high blood pressure
• blood tests indicating abnormal levels of fats or substances that control blood clotting
• diabetes
• limited ability to move around for a long time after an operation
The safety alert further advised women to talk to their doctors if they begin having such side-effects as liver cancer, joint pain and swelling, uncoordinated jerking movements, skin blistering, hearing loss, gut problems and swelling around the eyes, face and lips.
NuvaRing was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 as a once a month, flexible birth control ring. NuvaRing releases a continuous low dose of the hormones estrogen and progestin that helps prevent pregnancy. Merck has marketed the vaginal ring as being just as safe and effective as oral birth control pills. However, a FDA-funded study published in October 2011 found NuvaRing significantly increased the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in new users compared to standard low-dose birth control pills. Additionally, studies published in 2012 in The New England Journal of Medicine and the British Medical Journal indicated that NuvaRing side-effects included a higher risk of dangerous blood clots, as well as heart attacks and strokes.
[fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM277384.pdf, October 27, 2011]
[nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1111840; NEJM, June 2012]
[bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2990/rr/585117, British Medical Journal, May 2012]
In February, Merck announced that it would settle all NuvaRing lawsuits in mass litigation as well as individual lawsuits in other states as long as at least 95 percent of the plaintiffs agree to accept the settlement. Merck said in a statement issued in June 6, 2014, that an “immaterial number of cases have opted out of the settlement” but the company confirmed that the “resolution will move forward as planned.” By agreeing to the settlement, Merck said that it is not admitting to any wrongdoing.
[bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-07/merck-judge-says-company-to-pay-100-million-in-nuvaring-accord.html, February 8, 2014]
[mercknewsroom.com/news/company-statements/merck-stands-behind-safety-profile-nuvaring-etonogestrelethinyl-estradiol-va, June 6, 2014]
One NuvaRing complaint filed earlier this year, within MDL 1964, alleges the plaintiff developed serious side-effects from the NuvaRing contraceptive which she began using in 2007. In December 2012, the woman began to experience breathing problems, numbness in her left arm, palpitations and other symptoms, according to the NuvaRing lawsuit. After seeking medical attention for the problems, the woman was told she had blood clots lodged within the airways of her left lung. The NuvaRing lawsuit indicated that the woman was prescribed the blood thinner Coumadin and hospitalized for two days. The complaint purports that the defendants, Organon USA, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc., marketed NuvaRing as a safe and effective even though the companies knew about its significant risks of serious side effects.
About Wright & Schulte LLC
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com or by calling 1-800-399-0795.
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Wright & Schulte LLC
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Richard Schulte, Wright & Schulte LLC, http://yourlegalhelp.com/, +1 1-800-399-0795, [email protected]
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