(November 29, 2011)
26-year-old Vicky Caprice Mersereau died in 2009 of a large pulmonary embolism following ingestion of Yasmin, a “low-dose” hormonal contraceptive which is manufactured by Bayer, Inc.
The relatives of Ms. Mersereau have launched the very first individual civil lawsuit against the drug manufacturer in Toronto, Canada. The FDA’s reproductive health and drug safety committee will be looking at the safety of Yasmin and its unique progestin, drospirenone.
Last month the FDA warned that the oral contraceptives, which contain the hormone drospirenone and sold in Canada under the name Yasmin (or its sister pill, Yaz), increase the risk of blood clots by 74%, as compared with other pills on the market.
The following side effects have been linked to the use of Yasmin and Yaz:
– Stroke
– Deep vein thrombosis
– Pulmonary embolism
– Heart attack
– Gall bladder disease
More than 10,400 individual lawsuits regarding Yasmin and Yaz have been filed in the U.S. to date.
According to the lawsuit, the claim alleges that Bayer failed to adequately warn patients and physicians of the increased risk of heart disease associated with the use of Yasmin and Yaz, compared to safer oral contraceptives.
Time and time again, it’s the same song and dance with these pharmaceutical companies. They try to take advantage of the “little guys” (us, the consumers) while their bank accounts pile up with money from sales. They must conduct the research to prove their products are safe before they can release these products to the public. My guess is that they know these drugs cause some type of harm, and they believe the benefits (which they claim are the positive effects of the drug, when in reality, it is just their wallets getting fatter) outweigh the “small” risks they might cause. Do you think this is justice?
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