Yaz Pulmonary Embolism: Grounds for a Lawsuit

Around 190 women may have died of an apprent result of side effects of Yaz and Yasmin, the Brand name drospirenone-based birth control pills as well as the generic form marketed as Ocella. These three types are the only birth control pills that contain the synthetic hormone drospirenone. They also contain an amount of estrogen, commonly found in other forms of hormonal birth control.

            Scientists have long known that there is a risk of blood clots associated with any form of hormonal birth control due to the amount of estrogen in the drugs. However, scientific studies have shown that users of pills with drospirenone in them have their risk for  Yaz blood clots increased by 6.3 percent. Yaz has been linked to many conditions, and pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis,  also known as DVT, are some of the most serious. Both conditions are related to blood clots and can be fatal if not treated properly and quickly.

          Yaz DVT occurs when

a blood clot blocks an artery in the leg or hip. This condition can occur with very little or no manifestation of symptoms, although pain and swelling in the affected area can occur. If not treated properly, the blood clot can break off and lodge in the lung, throat, or heart, causing a potentially fatal situation.

            Pulmonary embolism is the medical name for a blood clot in the lung. This is a potentially life-threatening condition and has already killed several Yaz and Yasmin users. Many of their families are now looking to take legal action against drugmaker Bayer in order to gain compensation, and have filed a wrongful death lawsuit. It is unclear how many of the over 7,000 Yaz and Yasmin cases currently consolidated in multidistrict litigation are wrongful death lawsuits, but the thousands of Yaz lawsuits will likely provide a serious problem for Bayer.

            Lawsuits involving more serious side effects of Yaz and Yasmin, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, are likely to garner more significant media attention and heftier damages awarded to plaintiffs. Lesser side effects, including gallbladder problems, are also included in Yaz and Yasmin litigation against Bayer but are likely to be covered less by the media and plaintiffs in these cases will come away with less money, but damages and settlements could still be significant.