Trusted Legal Advocacy For Those Harmed By Paragard IUDs
When intrauterine devices (IUDs) were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they were celebrated as an alternative form of birth control for women, transgender (transmen with a uterus), nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender nonconforming individuals; one that was long-term and did not alter hormone levels. While many people have had good experiences with IUDs, others have suffered serious health effects and worse. One IUD in particular – Paragard – has been the source of significant controversy and litigation.
Have you suffered injuries or even infertility as a result of using Paragard? If so, you are certainly not alone. Tens of thousands of adverse events have been reported to the FDA, and many people are now taking legal action. If you’d like to learn more about your rights and legal options, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C.
What Can Go Wrong With Paragard IUDs
In the nearly 40 years that Paragard has been on the market, the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) has received more than 40,000 reports about problems with the device. More than 15,000 of these have been for serious complications, including at least 15 deaths.
The most commonly reported serious complications include:
Device breaking during removal or breaking while in the body- Device migrating out of the uterus and into other parts of the body
- Device perforating (puncturing) the cervix or uterus
- Allergic reactions and inflammation in response to pieces that remain in the body
- The need for surgery to remove broken pieces
- Pain and infections
- Infertility, sometimes stemming from a necessary hysterectomy as the result of damage caused by the device
The IUD is supposed to be quickly and easily removable by a doctor during a routine office visit. However, as thousands of women, transgender (transmen), nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender nonconforming individuals have discovered, the device does not always come out in one piece, and some parts may dangerously remain inside the body.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Like many drugs or medical devices that have been around for decades, ownership and manufacturing rights to this IUD have changed over time. Paragard was owned by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which sold it to CooperSurgical, Inc., in 2017. Both companies have been named as defendants in various product liability lawsuits.
In many cases, IUD users allege that these companies were aware of the dangers posed by Paragard, yet failed to warn consumers and continued to assert that the product was safe.
Discuss Your Legal Options With Attorneys Who Truly Care
The lawyers at The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C., are honored to help injured patients seek compensation from negligent manufacturers of defective medical devices and other products. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us in Denver, Colorado, or Cheyenne, Wyoming, to arrange a free initial consultation. Just call 303-800-3168 in Colorado, 307-414-9438 in Wyoming, or reach out online.