Couple Sues Merck & Co. for Wife’s NuvaRing Injuries

Sade and Eric Albino of Georgia are suing Merck & Co. for the injuries Sade allegedly sustained from their contraceptive product, the NuvaRing. The couple allege that the NuvaRing caused Sade to suffer deep vein thrombosis, a dangerous blood clot that occurs usually in a person’s leg or pelvis. 

Sade was first prescribed the NuvaRing in June 2011, and used it until her injury in November 2011. On Nov. 28, 2011, Albino was sent to the emergency room after she started suffering from blood-clot related side effects.  She was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.

After she was treated, the Albinos learned that NuvaRing had been associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and other related side effects. According to the NuvaRing lawsuit, neither the Albinos nor their physicians were aware of these risks. Sade claims that Merck and its associates had the obligation to notify her of these side effects. Had she known about these side effects, she says she never would have used the NuvaRing.

Overview of NuvaRing Complications

The NuvaRing was first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. It was the first contraceptive vaginal ring to be brought into the U.S. market. The NuvaRing is one of the most popular contraceptives in the United States, with more than 2 million women with NuvaRing prescriptions in the country. 

The NuvaRing is a small flexible ring that is made out of biologically-safe rubber. It is inserted into the vagina, making it comfortable and fairly non-invasive. Once this device is placed, it prevents pregnancy is by releasing a hormone compound consisting of ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel directly into the bloodstream through the vaginal walls. These hormones prevent the woman from ovulating, ultimately preventing pregnancy.  

Despite the efficiency and convenience of the NuvaRing, there have been recent concerns about the NuvaRing side effects, including certain injury reports indicating deep vein thrombosis. In October 2003, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine observed the effects of the NuvaRing in patients, and compared them to patients using different contraceptives. The study concluded that patients who used the NuvaRing were more likely to suffer from stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis than patients who used birth control pills.

Recent FDA injury reports have also indicated the same side effect incidents in patients. Despite the potentially deadly implications of these side effects, the current NuvaRing label does not indicate the possibility of developing deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke or other related side effects.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Merck & Co. over alleged NuvaRing side effects, many of which have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL). The Albinos are seeking damages for medical compensation, pain and suffering, and punitive charges.

This NuvaRing lawsuit is Sade L. Albino and Eric Albino v. Merck & Co., Case No. 2:13-cv-06503-SDW-MCA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

File a NuvaRing Lawsuit Today

If you took NuvaRing after Jan. 1, 2011, and suffered deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, you may qualify for compensation. Please visit the NuvaRing Birth Control Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned NuvaRing lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The NuvaRing attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.