Yasmin Lawsuits Filed Internationally

Adelaide, AustraliaYasmin birth control lawsuits have been filed not only in the US and Canada but also in Australia. These Yasmin side effects lawsuits allege women were not properly warned about the risks associated with Yasmin birth control, risks that reportedly include blood clots.

The West Australian (8/20/13) reports that approximately 230 women in Australia have contacted a law firm about joining up with a potential class-action lawsuit regarding Yasmin. They allege they developed blood clots after beginning on the birth control. Bayer has said there are risks and benefits for all contraceptives and that the small risk of blood clots is on the consumer information given to women.

Meanwhile, in the US, many Yasmin/Yaz lawsuits are still pending. According to Bayer’s quarterly report on the second quarter of 2013 (found online), as of July 8, 2013, there were approximately 5,400 claimants in pending lawsuits (not including those already settled) alleging personal injury - including fatal injuries - in US courts. Those claimants are involved in lawsuits concerning Yasmin, Yaz, Ocella and/or Gianvi (the last two are generic versions of Yasmin and Yaz).

As of the same date, Bayer has reached settlements with approximately 6,760 claimants regarding venous clot injuries linked to its products. Those lawsuits were settled for approximately $1.4 billion. Although that works out to around $207,000 per claimant, each individual settlement is determined based on the injury to the plaintiff.

Bayer also reports that it had settled birth control-related gall bladder injuries with approximately 8,800 plaintiffs for around $24 million. In all settlements, Bayer did not admit liability.

The company has said that approximately 2,800 of the pending cases still involve venous clot injuries. “Bayer will continue to consider the option of settling such individual lawsuits in the U.S. on a case-by-case basis,” the report states.

Bayer also notes that it now faces a class-action lawsuit that was served to the company in June 2013.

Lawsuits allege that fourth-generation birth control such as Yasmin and Yaz are more likely than older forms of birth control to cause blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and strokes. They allege women were not adequately warned about those risks.