One option for birth control is the intrauterine device or IUD. There are two main categories of intrauterine devices, those made with hormones and those made without hormones. Mirena is one of only three types of hormonal IUDs that are on the market. Marketing materials for the Mirena IUD target mothers who already have children, touting the product as a simple, reversible, no-hassle birth control method. The Mirena IUD has caused some serious health issues, and there have been over one thousand lawsuits filed against the manufacturer of Mirena since 2011 due to damages and losses that may have been caused by the product.
A recent lawsuit involving the Mirena IUD claims that the device caused Intracranial Hypertension, a condition which is also known as pseudotumor cerebri, or the dangerous and life-threatening buildup of fluid around the brain. When fluid builds up around the brain, the pressure inside of the skull becomes abnormally high, causing symptoms that include vision problems, severe headaches, and inability to tolerate light. The woman who filed the lawsuit experienced these symptoms and had a lumbar puncture performed to remove the excess fluid from her skull.
Other lawsuits alleging harm caused by the Mirena IUD involve situations where the IUD migrated after it was implanted, causing complications. Some of the damages suffered by plaintiffs in Mirena lawsuits include uterine perforation, miscarriage, organ damage, and ectopic, or tubal, pregnancies. Many of the lawsuits claim that the warnings provided with the product are insufficient and do not adequately communicate the risks associated with Mirena to those patients who are considering using it. At least one lawsuit alleges that the harm caused by the Mirena IUD resulted in a wrongful death. The plaintiff in the wrongful death lawsuit had a Mirena IUD implanted in 2009, and in 2013, she gave birth to a stillborn son. In her lawsuit, she states that the device became embedded in her uterine wall, greatly increasing the risk of harm to her fetus when the device did not prevent pregnancy like it was supposed to.
There have been many lawsuits that allege harm caused by the Mirena IUD, and the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation considered the possibility of consolidating the claims into a class action lawsuit. In 2014, the panel declined to consolidate the claims. The panel did not combine the claims into a class action lawsuit because the individual claims are not so similar to each other that it would make sense to treat them as a group. There are various types of harm alleged in the current lawsuits, and, for now, each claim will be handled individually. It is possible that claims could be consolidated in the future as new plaintiffs continue to come forward and file lawsuits.
Giddens Law Firm, P.A.: Support for Those Harmed by Defective Products
Medical devices like the Mirena IUD often provide some health benefits, but the patients who use them are also at risk for serious side effects. If you believe that you are experiencing an injury or illness in connection with your use of a Mirena IUD, seek medical attention right away. If your IUD played a role in your injury or illness, the Mississippi Products Liability Attorneys of the Giddens Law Firm, P.A. may be able to help you. Please call our office today, at (601) 355-2022, to learn more.