ParaGard Lawsuit Filed After Copper IUD Migrated, Embedded in Colon
A Florida woman has filed a product liability lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals, alleging that she suffered sever complications from a Paragard intrauterine device (IUD), after the birth control migrated out of her uterus and embedded into her colon.
Yolanda Hudson filed a ParaGard IUD lawsuit in Florida state court on March 4, according to a recent report by Law360.com.
The complaint alleges that Hudson had the ParaGard copper IUD inserted in March 2008. Although the birth control device is designed to remain in place for up to 10 years, Hudson began experiencing severe complications a year later and it was discovered that the IUD had perforated her uterine wall and migrated outside the uterus, ultimately embedding in the colon. As a result, Hudson required surgery to have part of her colon removed.
According to allegations raised in the lawsuit, Teva Pharmaceuticals failed to adequately warn women and their doctors about the risks associated with the Paragard copper IUD, which is promoted as a safe and effective form of long-acting birth control. In addition to problems with migration, Hudson indicates that side effects of the ParaGard IUD could include intrauterine pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic infection, expulsion, Wilson Disease, vaginal bleeding, septic abortion, and other complications.
The lawsuit charges Teva with failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, misrepresentation, and designing a defective product. The lawsuit seeks $15 million in damages for pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life and also seeks punitive damages against the company for at least three times the compensatory damages.
Mounting Lawsuits Over IUD Birth Control
ParaGard is a copper IUD, where a T-shaped plastic frame is wrapped with copper wire coils, which is designed to produce an inflammatory reaction in the uterus that is toxic to sperm. The device is designed to remain in place for up to 10 years after insertion.
Hudson’s complaint comes amid a mounting number of similar lawsuits that have been filed over another type of IUD birth control, which is sold by Bayer under the brand name Mirena.
The Mirena IUD does not feature copper, but rather is designed to release a type of progestin after the T-shaped plastic device is inserted into the uterus.
According to similar allegations raised in dozens of Mirena IUD lawsuits filed by women throughout the United States, Bayer failed to adequately warn about the risk of migration and perforation, which has often been seen long after the device is inserted. The complaints argue that if women had been provided more detailed and accurate warnings about the risks, many severe complications from Mirena IUD could have been avoided.
104 comments
I had two surgeries and they couldn’t remove it, it’s embedded in Uterus wall, so surgeon told me either they need to remove the uterus or just leave it as it is and they’ll monitor it to see if there’s any danger!
I had my copper IUD removed in 2011 or 2012. It was found embedded I my uterus, very close to the top of my hip. When rhe doctore removed it he said, you said you dont want anymore kids right and then he removed the IUD. It was so painful. No pain meds or anything. The IUD was horrible, I was depressed all the time, lack of energy that I still have to this day and I have to take B12 vitamins to counteract. It was very painful when I had sex, k gained alot of weight. Well, since I have had it removed I keep getting these fibrosistic tumors in crazy locations in my body that no one can seem to figure out why and how I have gotten them. I am frustrated because I never had these problems until I had the IUD removed. I am mentally and physically damaged from having the IUD. I was not aware or told that I would have any of the problems I have had.
Just recently found out that I have Paragard IUD arm imbedded in cervix (10/2015) – had D&C (Nov 2015) performed, could not locate arm – hospitalized Feb 2016 with perforated colon. Insurance won’t cover anything due to IUD – bills mounting… no lawyers wants to touch – told that it is not a VIABLE case. What? Still in discomfort.
I had a copper 7 IUD . In the year of 1991 and had to go to the hospital and have It removed I almost died and had to have surgery right away. Spent 3weeks on an incubator and my doctor was there but his son came in and immediately took over and did the surgery. The surgery I had left bad scars on my stomach and me owing a $53,000 hospital bill. When i decided to have it placed and then wanted it removed my first doctor refused and then in 1991 I finally got it out but it nearly killed me.