Canadian women sue makers of Yasmin over health problems
March 27th, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Canadian Ann Schwoob was just 33 years old when she went to the hospital complaining of chest pains. She was diagnosed with pneumonia, but entered a second hospital days later where she was told she had suffered a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot blocking the pulmonary artery that leads to the lungs. It could have killed her. But what took Schwoob by surprise was what caused the condition – her birth control pills.
Schwoob was one of two million Canadian women in 2009 prescribed Bayer Pharmaceutical’s blockbuster oral contraceptive Yasmin, according to TheSpec.com. Yasmin is also sold under the brand name Yaz and the generic brand ocella. Three months after starting on the meds, Schwoob suffered the chest pains. She says she was never warned that by taking Yasmin, she was at greater risk of suffering blood clots and other serious health problems. She is now a vocal representative of a class action lawsuit against Bayer filed by women, like her, who have been harmed by Yasmin. Bayer also faces hundreds of similar lawsuits in the United States.
Schwoob’s lawsuit claims Yasmin and Yaz carry a four times greater risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism compared to other contraceptives, yet the company failed to adequately warn the public of those risks. Bayer contests that notion, arguing that its birth control pills are safe and effective.
The class action lawsuit seeks damages of $500,000 for every woman who was prescribed Yasmin, as well as $20 million in punitive damages.