On February 7, Merck & Co. stated publicly that it will pay $100 million to resolve all product liability lawsuits in the US that allege the company covered up serious health risks involving the NuvaRing intrauterine contraceptive device.
Stock Photo by Sean Locke The drug, which contains hormones estrogen and progestin, is associated with an increased risk of developing blood clots that can cause heart attacks, strokes or sudden deaths. Available to women in the US since 2001, NuvaRing is one of several contraceptive products linked to this dangerous side effect.
Merck, the second-largest drug maker in America, denied any fault under the agreement, which must be accepted by 95 percent of about 3,800 eligible patients involved in lawsuits pending in federal and state courts.
Under the settlement, Merck would pay a fraction of what at least one company has paid in a similar settlement recently. German drug maker Bayer AG paid nearly $1.6 billion last year to settle thousands of lawsuits involving accusations that its Yaz and Yazmin birth control pills caused blood clots that led to strokes and heart attacks.
What are My Options If I Was Injured by My Birth Control?
As Joseph Kalbac explains in the video above, physicians may not be aware of the risky side effects of the drugs they prescribe, which is why drug manufacturers must exercise reasonable care in the labeling, manufacturing and dissemination of vital information to medical doctors and pharmacists concerning the risks of their products.
Colson Hicks Eidson has extensive experience representing victims that have suffered from taking prescription and over-the-counter drugs. If you have been injured by a drug, contact us today at 305-476-7400 to schedule a consultation. Our partners successfully handle pharmaceutical litigation, both for individual plaintiffs and in class action and multidistrict litigation settings.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-merck-nuvaring-idUSBREA1615F20140207