Mirena Injury Allegations Prompt Lawsuit

Another Mirena IUD injury lawsuit alleges serious allegations concerning the implantable birth control.

The complaint indicates that the plaintiff was implanted with Bayer’s Mirena intrauterine device (IUD) in October 2009. In April 2010, she went to her doctor’s office complaining of pain. Her physician was unable to see the Mirena’s strings and was unable to locate the IUD using ultrasound. An x-ray revealed that the Mirena IUD migrated within the abdominal cavity located outside the uterus. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove the Mirena IUD in May 2010.

The plaintiff is suing for severe and permanent physical injuries, substantial pain and suffering, and economic loss due to medical expenses and lost wages. The lawsuit alleges that Bayer was aware that the Mirena IUD was defective, yet failed to warn about the risks. The lawsuit also alleges that Bayer has a history of misrepresenting Mirena.

In 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) contact Bayer for making unsubstantiated claims about the device while failing to mention its risks in the company’s “Simple Style” program. Meanwhile, a federal Mirena IUD multidistrict litigation (MDL) was recently established in the Southern District of New York.

Bayer’s Mirena IUD is designed to prevent pregnancy for up to five years. The small, plastic, ”t”-shaped device is attached to two strings. Once placed inside the uterus by a healthcare professional, the Mirena releases the hormone levonorgestrel. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most serious side effects associated with the Mirena IUD include:

Perforation of the uterine wall

• Embedment of the device in the uterine wall
• Intrauterine pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Group A streptococcal sepsis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Surgical removal of the Mirena is required when Mirena IUD injuries occur, which may also lead to other serious injuries and infections. Some of these serious injuries are long-term and, sometimes, permanent.

Matthew J. McCauley, Senior Litigation Counsel at the national law firm, Parker Waichman LLP, co-chairs the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Mirena IUD Litigation Group. The Group is actively involved in exchanging educational materials and medical literature in order to best represent victims.

This lawsuit was filed by Parker Waichman LLP, on April 12, 2013 in the Morris County Civil Division (Civil Action No.L1006-13). Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals was named as the defendant.