Bellwether trials in the NuvaRing MDL (multi-district litigation) have been postponed, again, until July 2013. Legal experts familiar Merck’s vaginal ring contraceptive serious side effects – which include blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and death – say that settlements might be on the horizon.
Over 1,000 NuvaRing Injury Lawsuits Pending
Over 1,000 NuvaRing injury lawsuits are pending in the MDL filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri under Judge Rodney W. Sippel. While the first trials in the MDL were set to begin in 2012, they have been postponed several times. The most recent postponement may indicate that Organon BioSciences USA, part of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., may be closer to settling lawsuits involving injuries associated with the vaginal hormonal contraceptive device.
NuvaRing Side Effects
Plaintiffs in the MDL generally allege that NuvaRing, the flexible plastic ring which releases a low dose of etonogestrel (synthetic progestin) and estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) over a three week period, is defective and that manufacturers and marketers failed to adequately warn women and their doctors about the dangers associated with its use. NuvaRing side effects include increased risks of:
- Breast cancer
- Clotting in the blood vessels of the eye (which can cause vision problems)
- Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot typically occurring in the legs which can be very dangerous if it travels to the lungs)
- Gallbladder disease
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
Other more common ailments can include vaginal infections, headaches, weight gain and nausea.
NuvaRing Lawsuits
If you’ve been injured by NuvaRing, contact an experienced NuvaRing injury attorney to discuss what options are available to you so that you can make an informed decision about whether filing a NuvaRing injury lawsuit makes sense for you. NuvaRing injury victims may be entitled to compensation such as past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages, emotional distress, loss of consortium and more.
