Thousands of Women Negatively Affected by Unsafe Essure Implant
Essure is a contraceptive implant designed to permanently prevent pregnancy. The implant is a small coil made of nickel and titanium, which is inserted non-surgically into the Fallopian tubes. Over a period of 90 days, the coil causes fibrosis within the Fallopian tubes, permanently blocking passage from the uterus into the ovaries and making pregnancy impossible.
In addition to accidental pregnancy, many women using Essure have experienced painful medical complications as a direct consequence of the implant, such as:
- Hair loss
- Bowel problems
- Dizziness and fainting
- Excruciating abdominal pain
- Excessive menstrual bleeding
- Need for remedial surgeries or treatments (full hysterectomies, in some cases)
These and other serious side effects may come as a result of migration of the device into the uterus, abdomen, or pelvic cavity. More generous estimates place the number of reported cases of Essure-related injuries between 27,000 and 30,000.
FDA Takes Action to Regulate Essure, Bayer Announces it Will Discontinue Product
In the past several years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun putting pressure on Bayer (the makers of Essure) to include more explicit warnings (referred to as “black box warnings”) about the product and do more to facilitate informed consent among recipients.
However, concerning reports from Essure recipients have continued to pour in, and lawsuits against Bayer began to mount. The FDA took repeated and increasingly stringent measures to regulate the product and investigate these troublesome trends, but injuries associated with the implant continued unabated.
Plaintiffs Claim Bayer Ignored Evidence of Dangers Posed by Essure
As the FDA increased regulations on Essure, sales took a sharp dive. The company claims that these declining sales are the real reason behind their decision to discontinue the product. However, many believe it to be the result of the increasing number of Essure lawsuits being filed against Bayer.
Since Bayer announced it would discontinue Essure sales in the United States by 2019, many women who are taking action against the company claim its decision should have come years ago. Plaintiffs and their attorneys are claiming Bayer knew about the risks Essure posed for recipients and failed to act in a timely manner.
Reports suggest the first hearings will take place in Oakland, CA next year, where Essure claims are most densely concentrated. Bayer has stopped agreeing to large settlements over Essure and other contraceptives, so current lawsuits are expected to proceed to trial.
Continue check out our blog to stay updated on current events related to Essure lawsuits and legal actions being taken against Bayer.
Harmed by a Dangerous Medical Device? We Handle Cases Across the Nation.
At Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C., we provide help for people like you who have been seriously hurt by dangerous medical devices and pharmaceutical products nationwide. If you or someone you love has received the Essure implant and suffered as a result, we urge you to connect with a member of our team immediately. We have handled many cases involving unsafe or defective medical devices, and we may be able to help you obtain compensation for costs associated with your injuries and medical treatment.
Speak to an injury lawyer in Pittsburgh today by calling (844) 383-0565.