Woman Sues Bayer Over Ocella Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
By John Curran
Plaintiff Frances Colville says in a new Ocella birth control lawsuit that she developed a dangerous blood clot condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after taking the popular oral contraceptive for several years.
Ocella is a member of the same family of birth control medications as Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz, meaning that it is a dual-hormone treatment that includes drospirenone. When the birth control pills launched, there was not a significant amount of data regarding the risks of blood clotting from drospirenone. However, by the time Colville was diagnosed with Ocella DVT in August 2010, Bayer had already had to change its advertising practices twice.
In 2003, the agency stated that the “FDA is not aware of substantial evidence of substantial clinical experience demonstrating that Yasmin is superior to other COCs or that the drospirenone in Yasmin is clinically beneficial. On the contrary, FDA is aware of the added clinical risks associated with drospirenone.” By then, reports of Ocella deep vein thrombosis side effects and other blood clotting conditions like pulmonary embolisms and strokes were mounting.
In addition, the hypothesis that an increase in potassium, or hyperkalemia, was linked to Yasmin blood clot side effects was strong enough that a follow-up letter noted Bayer failed “to communicate that the potential to increase potassium is a risk.” With thousands of mentions of the oral contraceptive family in the agency’s Adverse Event Reporting System, Colville should have been warned of these potential conditions, according to her Ocella lawsuit lawyer.
However, the company did not do so, and as a result is facing more than 10,000 lawsuits. Counts mostly mimic those in Colville’s complaint, including defective manufacturing, design defect, failure to warn, failure to adequately test, negligence, breaches of express and implied warranties, negligent misrepresentation and violation of state statutes.
The Ocella deep vein thrombosis lawsuit is Frances Colville v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al., Case No. 13-cv-10779. It was filed directly into the Yasmin/Yaz MDL No. 2100, In re: Yasmin and Yaz (drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Relevant Liability Litigation.
Women who have dealt with blood clot side effects from Yasmin, Yaz, Beyaz and Ocella should know that Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals has already begun settling with thousands of plaintiffs. However, that determination is based on the facts of your case, so the first step is to determine your eligibility. You can do so by getting a free consultation at the Yaz/Yasmin, Beyaz & Ocella Birth Control Pill Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. An Ocella lawsuit lawyer will contact you to review your legal options.
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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