IUDs and Failure to Warn
Over the past few years, a number of lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, the maker of Mirena. Mirena is one of three different IUD devices currently available on the market and is used by millions of women across the country. Unfortunately, some women have experienced severe side effects due to IUDs, including abdominal pain, perforation of the uterus or cervix, migration of the IUD to other organs or parts of the body, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and much more. Recently, a new IUD called Skyla was released on the market and is expected to cause many of the same injuries. These complaints have caused many to question the safety of IUD devices.
How IUDs Work
To understand the risks associated with IUDs, it is helpful to gain an understanding of how they work. IUDs are placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Mirena and Skyla release a hormone that has a contraceptive effect. Paragard does not release hormones and instead, creates an inflammatory reaction to prevent conception.
Risks of Using IUDs
IUDs have several common side effects, including cramping, irregular bleeding, and spotting. Aside from these minor complications, rare but serious risks also exist. IUDs can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and uterine perforation. Uterine perforation occurs when the device migrates to the abdomen and penetrates the skin. This can be life threatening and often requires surgery. Other complications include ectopic pregnancy, Group A streptococcal sepsis, miscarriage, endometriosis, and more.
Due to these serious complications, many women have filed product liability suits against the makers of Mirena and other IUDs alleging that the manufacturer failed to warn of these serious risks. Failure to warn is one general type of product liability claim. It requires that injured plaintiffs prove that:
• The manufacturer knew of the potentially serious risks at the time of sale of the IUDs;
• These potential risks presented a danger to patients when the IUD was used in an expected manner;
• The consumer did not recognize these risks;
• The manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings of these potential risks;
• Serious injury resulted; and
• The manufacturer's lack of warnings as to risks played a substantial role in causing the injury.
Anyone who has suffered a serious injury due to an IUD should consult with an attorney as soon as possible. IUD litigation is ongoing and a number of considerable settlements have been reached against negligent manufacturers.
Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Put Our Over 39 Years of Experience to Work on Your Case!
If you have experienced an IUD injury, such as organ perforation, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, or any other serious ailment, the Georgia Personal Injury Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, want to help. Our firm aims to provide exemplary legal services to injured individuals across Georgia and in the Southeast. We bring 30 years of experience to your Atlanta products liability attorney, including considerable experience involving medical devices. Prompt action is vital to the success of your personal injury case. As such, do not delay in seeking legal assistance, as your time to file a personal injury claim after your accident is limited. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
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