In addition to facing thousands of lawsuits over the birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, Bayer is now facing more legal troubles over another popular contraceptive. A lawsuit was filed in federal court recently by a woman who claims that the drug manufacturer failed to warn consumers about the potential dangers associated with the intrauterine device Mirena.

The contraceptive is placed in a woman’s uterus and is intended to prevent pregnancy for up to five years. Millions of women across the globe use the device. More than 2 million women in the United States rely on the contraceptive for pregnancy prevention.

According to the lawsuit, Mirena can cause ectopic pregnancies. There may even be instances when the device becomes embedded in the body. The woman who filed the complaint reportedly had to have surgery to remove the device.

People go to their doctors when they are in need of help. They assume that the drugs and medical devices that they are prescribed are safe. Unfortunately, that isn’t always true. While many products will not cause any adverse side effects, some can leave people with debilitating complications.

In those instances, consumers may be able to hold negligent drug manufacturers responsible. People may be able to pursue compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation and other expenses related to the injuries suffered as a result of a defective product.

In order to be sure a negligent manufacturer is held accountable, people in Nebraska and others living elsewhere would be wise to seek out an experienced legal professional.

Source: Bloomberg, “Bayer Sued Over Alleged Hidden Risks of Mirena Contraceptive,” Sophie Pearson, Jan. 28, 2013

•· Our firm works with people who have been harmed by a defective medical device. To learn more, please visit our Lincoln defective drugs page.