Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

A Chicago woman who claims she was injured as a result of taking Yaz filed a lawsuit on November 4 against Bayer in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff started using Yaz in January 2008 and, as a direct result, developed gall stones which led to the removal of her gall bladder.

Development of gall stones and gall bladder disease are among the serious risks associated with the oral contraceptive Yaz. The drug has also been blamed for elevating the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, kidney failure, seizures, deep vein thrombosis, hepatic adenomas and sudden death.

According to the lawsuit, 50 deaths attributed to the use of Yaz and Yasmin were reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between the first quarter of 2004 and the third quarter of 2008.

The lawsuit alleges that Bayer markets Yaz and Yasmin “as providing the same efficacy as other birth control pills in preventing pregnancy, but with additional benefits,” rather than the higher risks the drugs pose.

“The foreseeable risks of the product exceeded the benefits associated with its design or formulation. Or they were more dangerous than an ordinary consumer would expect,” the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, medical expenses and economic damages, and attorney’s fees. Because Bayer ran a deceptive ad campaign for Yaz, hailing the drug for uses unapproved by the FDA while downplaying its risks, the plaintiff also seeks an unspecified amount of punitive damages.

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/

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