Illinois Woman Sues Merck for NuvaRing Injuries

Illinois plaintiff Pamela Tailey is suing Merck & Co., for the injuries she allegedly sustained from using the NuvaRing. The plaintiff alleges that in direct consequence of using the NuvaRing, she suffered from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which nearly caused her death. 

Tailey started using the NuvaRing on December 15, 2007 and stopped using the device on December 29, 2007. According to her NuvaRing lawsuit, Tailey discontinued the use of the NuvaRing after it was discovered that she was suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT). She continues to need follow-up care for this condition.

According to her NuvaRing lawsuit, neither Tailey nor her physician was aware of this possible occurrence. Further, Merck allegedly failed to notify them of possible NuvaRing side effects. Additionally, because there were reportedly no warnings or indications about DVT on the product’s label, Tailey claims she had no reason to believe she was in any danger of developing the condition. She says that had she known about this possibility, she would not have used the product.

Tailey states in the NuvaRing lawsuit that Merck and its affiliates had the responsibility to ensure that she and other women who use this product would not be at risk, or at the very least, the companies had an obligation to warn them about the possibility of DVT.  

In her NuvaRing lawsuit, Tailey claims Merck was directly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing and marketing a dangerous product. Additional charges against the company include concealing information, misrepresenting a product and false advertising.

Overview of NuvaRing Complications

The NuvaRing, manufactured by Merck, is a contraceptive vaginal ring that is sold as a birth control option for women in the United States. It was first approved for the market by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 3, 2001, but wasn’t available in stores until July 2002. It is currently used by 1.5 million women worldwide, with new prescriptions written every day for the product. It is currently the only birth control product that works month-by-month, and many praise its convenience and efficiency.

Despite its popularity, the NuvaRing has been linked to some harmful side effects. The product is made of a biologically-safe plastic in the shape of a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina, where it remains for three to four weeks. The NuvaRing works by releasing low doses of progestin and estrogen, preventing fertilization of the egg. 

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that patients who used the NuvaRing and other vaginal rings with the same progestin and estrogens were 6.5 times more likely to suffer from DVT, heart attack, blood clots, stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE) and other cardiac complications. Despite the severity of the risks and side effects, the warning label for the NuvaRing reportedly has not been updated to include this information.

NuvaRing Litigation Movement

At this time, millions of women across America are suing Merck & Co. over the NuvaRing side effects they allegedly suffered. Many of them state that Merck’s warning label for the NuvaRing is insufficient.

Tailey is one of the women claiming she suffered from this inadequate labeling, and she is demanding the company to take responsibility. She is seeking damages for medical compensation, negligence, pain and suffering and punitive damages. 

The NuvaRing lawsuit is Pamela Tailey v. Merck & Co., Case No. 0:13-cv-02522-PAM-JSM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

File a NuvaRing Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a NuvaRing injury, you have legal options. Please visit the NuvaRing Birth Control Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & 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.