Calif. Woman Claims Yaz Caused Her Blood Clot

When Bayer introduced Yasmin, it was marketed as a “fourth generation” form of birth control. As such, it didn’t carry the same blood clot and risk warnings as other oral contraceptives. It also sidestepped the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements set for third generation birth control pills as, technically, it was “new.”

“Yaz and Yasmin are different from other combined hormonal birth control pills in that they contain drospirenone, a progestin that is unlike other progestins available in the United States and was never before marketed in the United States prior to its use in Yasmin.” However, it turned out the warnings were needed. Plaintiff Aileen Davis filed her Yaz lawsuit on April 2, claiming that she suffered a blood clot on in 2002 as a result of using Yaz. At the time, she didn’t realize that it could be a Yasmin side effect.

Aileen Davis is not alone. So many women have reported clotting and related conditions from Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella that Yaz class action lawsuit have been filed.

In some cases, clots can be deadly and/or can cause heart attacks. Davis’ lawsuit states “that as a direct and proximate result of using Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella Plaintiff suffered from a blood clot on or about 2002, resulting in ongoing physical pain, significant changes in lifestyle, medical, health, incidental and related expenses, medical monitoring and/or medications, and the fear of developing additional health consequences.”

Davis points out in her Yaz lawsuit that “During the brief time that Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella have been sold in the United States, hundreds of reports of injury and death have been submitted to the FDA in association with Defendants’ products.” She, along with other plaintiffs, didn’t know, nor could have reasonably learned, about the full Yasmin risks. Davis wasn’t warned about clotting, signs to watch for, or the risks of a heart attack.

Marketing: Another Problem

The many Yasmin complaints point out that Bayer also marketed the pills as a means to not only effective and safe birth control, but also as a way to reduce PMS, and improve your complexion and sex life. The FDA stepped in and issued a warning letter to Bayer to cease the misleading advertising. Bayer agreed to spend at least $20 million on “corrective TV advertisements” and to submit all Yaz/Yasmin advertisements to the FDA for advanced screening for six years. However, victims claim not enough was done to ensure that the warnings of Yasmin risks were sufficient.

Risks Have No Age Limit

There are FDA reports of women as young as 17 dying of alleged Yasmin complications. Davis “reasonably relied upon Defendants’ representations to her and/or her healthcare providers that Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella was safer than other types of oral contraceptives for human consumption and/or use and that Defendants’ labeling, advertisements and promotions fully described all known risks of the product.” Had Davis known of the risks and dangers associated with Yaz, she could have opted for one of the safer contraception choices on the market.

Davis has thus far chosen to not join a Yasmin class action lawsuit, but that might be an option in the future. She’s filed a lawsuit against Bayer for defective manufacturing, design defect, defect due to inadequate warning, negligence, fraud, breach of warranties, and violation of consumer protection laws.

The case is Aileen Davis v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., et al, Case No. 3:14-cv-10201-DRH-PMF, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Join a Free Yaz Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or someone you know suffered a birth control blood clot injury such as a stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism, you have legal options. See if you qualify for compensation by submitting your information for a free and confidential case evaluation:

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