Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson Alleges Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch Caused Pulmonary Embolism in User

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 17 Sep 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The law firm of Parker & Waichman on Wednesday filed a lawsuit on behalf of a woman who suffered a pulmonary embolism after using the... Ortho Evra contraceptive patch, alleging that Johnson & Johnson was aware of potentially amplified medical risks associated with the patch and failed to warn patients adequately, the AP/Kansas City Star reports. J&J is the parent company of Ortho-McNeil, which manufactures the contraceptive (AP/Kansas City Star, 9/14). The patch is worn on the skin for one week at a time, delivering progestin and estrogen to the blood stream. The Associated Press in July reported that according to FDA records it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, women using Ortho Evra in 2004 were three times as likely as women using birth control pills to die or develop nonfatal blood clots. FDA and Ortho-McNeil said they were aware of a possible increased risk of blood clots among patch users but said that the patch is as safe as birth control pills. J&J in March launched print and television advertisements for Ortho Evra featuring doctors who discuss risks associated with the patch (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 7/19). The lawsuit says that the woman had been using the patch for seven months when she experienced the pulmonary embolism (AP/Kansas City Star, 9/14).

Parker & Waichman

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