Plaintiff, Brandy Houk, used the patch from February to October 2005, and alleges that she suffered shortness of breath, fatigue, excessive bleeding, and large clots as a result.
Plaintiff, Melody Miller, alleges that on December 21, 2003, she suffered multiple blood clots which resulted in the miscarriage of her child in the fifth month of pregnancy.
Plaintiff, Tanya Lowe, alleges that she suffered blood clots in her right leg which shattered and spread into her lungs in January 2004, while using the patch.
Plaintiff, Stephanie Curtis, alleges that in March 2004 she noticed a red spot just above the patch so discontinued the patch and immediately became pregnant. In June or July of 2004, she alleges she developed a blood condition which predisposed her to blood clots that required the use of blood thinners while pregnant.
Plaintiff, Kristine Bailey, claims in late October to early November 2005, she suffered blood clots, dizziness and fatigue.
The plaintiffs also allege that J&J violated consumer fraud statutes with the use of false and misleading misrepresentations in the marketing, promotion and sale of the patch.
Specifically, since January 2006, Johnson & Johnson has been willing to negotiate out-of-court settlements in lawsuits that involve women who have been hospitalized for the following conditions:
* strokes;
* heart attacks;
* pulmonary embolisms; and
* deep vein thrombosis.
In layman's terms, all of these conditions involve injuries caused by blood clots. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: (1) thrombosis is the formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck; and (2) embolism is the movement of a clot from another part of the body to the neck or brain.
Hormonal birth control products are known to increase the risk of blood clots because estrogen promotes coagulation. Clots usually form in the legs and cause serious problems when they travel to the heart, lungs, or brain.
A blood clot in the lungs can cause the inability to breathe (lung embolism) and a blood clot in the heart can cause a heart attack or heart failure. A blood clot in the brain can cause stroke by interfering with the free flow of blood to the brain, according to the NINDS:
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
