Mirena IUD Lawsuit Alleges Device Migrated

Mirena IUD Lawsuit Alleges Device Migrated

By Robert J. Boumis

Anne O’Neil of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against medical manufacturer Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., alleging that their Mirena IUD product caused her to experience pain, suffering and medical costs due to various complications. 

The Mirena IUD is a contraceptive device that is designed to be implanted in the uterus by a physician. Due to its ease of use, it has become a widely popular form of contraception around the world. However, the device has been implicated in a number of serious Mirena IUD complications.

According to the Mirena IUD lawsuit, O’Neil received the intrauterine device from her physicians in June 2008. However, during a routine examination in 2010, physicians found evidence that the Mirena IUD had “migrated,” a medical term meaning the implant had punctured the uterus and moved into the abdominal cavity. CT scans revealed its location, and O’Neil underwent laparoscopic surgery in July 2010 to remove the device and prevent further damage.

The Mirena IUD lawsuit alleges that Bayer was aware – or reasonably should have been aware – of the risks associated with the contraceptive device. The lawsuit cites postmarket surveillance and peer reviewed medical articles that indicate the risk of events similar to those that O’Neil suffered. 

Additionally, the Mirena IUD lawsuit asserts that not only was Bayer aware of the risks, but actively downplayed the risks. Per the complaint, Bayer received a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Drug Marketing, issued in 2009. The letter warns Bayer that its direct-to-consumer marketing program for the Mirena IUD, called the “Simple Style” program, was exaggerating the benefits and downplaying the risks by omitting information about possible Mirena IUD risks in the materials that accompany its prescribing information. In fact, the letter asserts that some of the claims made by the program were contrary to clinical evidence. O’Neil received information about the Mirena IUD through this very program, and the Mirena IUD lawsuit alleges that had she been more informed about risks, she would not have used the device. 

This Mirena IUD lawsuit is Anne O’Neal, v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Case No. 2:13-cv-05168-JD, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 

If you or someone you care about suffered from serious complications after receiving a Mirena IUD, you have almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. Mirena IUD complications can be a medical emergency and may require surgical intervention. In addition to the physical and emotional burden of such a situation, emergency medical care can come with monetary costs, like lost wages due to surgery and recovery time and mounting medical bills. But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you’ve found yourself facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Mirena IUD Injury Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation. From here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.