JPML Will Not Consolidate Mirena IUD Brain Injury Claims
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) announced on August 12th that they would not consolidate the Mirena IUD brain injury lawsuits that allege brain tumors and other neurological conditions caused by the birth control device because there are too few lawsuits.
The JPML stated in its order that there are only 9 lawsuits alleging that the Mirena IUD birth control device caused pseudotumors that led to neurological problems, which is not enough to consolidate the cases.
The plaintiffs allege that they suffer a new, dangerous injury to the brain, called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (or IIH) or pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).
Symptoms of IIH include headaches, blurred or double vision, temporary blindness, and phantom “whooshing” noises, reportedly as spinal fluid builds up. IIH or PTC can eventually lead to permanent blindness. Plaintiffs allege that the Mirena IUD’s synthetic hormone Levonorgestrel can lead to the creation of the pseudotumor – so called because it mimics some side effects of an actual tumor, including pressure against regions of the brain or optic nerve.
The plaintiffs sought consolidation of their Mirena IUD brain injury cases into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Tennessee, which pharmaceutical giant Bayer opposed.
“Defendant represents that it stands ready and willing to share any overlapping discovery upon entry of an appropriate protective order — which already has been entered in two actions,” the JPML said in its order. “The actions before the panel are well-positioned for informal coordination as they are all in their infancy with discovery having commenced in a handful of actions only in the past few months.”
The FDA has not issued an official warning about the association between IIH/PTC and Mirena’s levonorgestrel, but the resulting pseudotumor condition is rare: in a 1994 study, about 3.3 out of every 100,000 women between ages 15 and 44 were affected by IIH, but levonorgestrel could increase the risk of pseudotumor development.
An MDL against Bayer has already formed, with numerous plaintiffs alleging severe injuries caused by the Mirena IUD. Many women allege that the company’s intrauterine birth control device, the Mirena IUD, not only does not prevent pregnancy as advertised, but can perforate surrounding organs and cause severe internal damage and pain.
The Strom Law Firm Defends Consumers Against Dangerous Devices Like the Mirena IUD
Since the Mirena IUD was originally approved for use, numerous exceptions to its use have been discovered. Bayer claimed the Mirena IUD should be used in women who have at least one child and only one sexual partner, but reportedly, some doctors in the Boston area say that the device is only safe for women who have never had children. The Mirena device is also not recommended for use in women with uncontrolled pelvic inflammation, breast, cervical, or uterine cancers (past or present), liver disease, or a weak immune system.
If you or a loved one have used the Mirena IUD for contraception and have experienced pain, infection, bleeding, ovarian cysts, intrauterine pregnancy, kidney stones, pelvic inflammatory disease, or organ perforation due to the device, you are not alone. The Strom Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your Mirena personal injury case. Contact us today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.
