New Mirena IUD Lawsuits Filed with JPML for Latest Mirena IUD Injury
Many women have joined a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, alleging 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.
Now, a group of 10 plaintiffs has filed for consolidation with the Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to have their claims against the Mirena IUD go to court – and the plaintiffs 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.
Plaintiffs seek pretrial consolidation of the proposed Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related Product Liability Litigation multidistrict litigation at this time because it will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses, will promote the just and efficient conduct of present and future actions, and will avoid inconsistent rulings in various courts,” the plaintiffs said in the brief.
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.
“We are reviewing this new filing and look forward to formally responding to the court regarding these allegations, which we believe are without merit and not based in science,” Bayer spokesman Chris Loder said in a statement. “Based on the totality of data available to date, a positive benefit-risk profile continues to be observed with Mirena.”
On June 17th, Bayer filed a response to the Mirena IUD injury consolidation request, stating that there are too few plaintiffs to warrant an MDL.
The JPML will determine whether or not an MDL is appropriate on July 31st, 2014, in Kansas City. The plaintiffs requested that their Mirena IUD lawsuits be consolidated in the Middle District of Tennessee.
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.
