Yasmin Birth Control Lawyer Interviews

Dallas, TX: When it comes to determining whether or not to take Yasmin birth control, Yaz birth control or Ocella birth control, one of the concerns is likely the risk of side effects from the contraceptives. Lawsuits filed against Bayer AG, allege the contraceptive maker knew about the side effects but failed to adequately warn patients about those risks. Dr. Shezad Malik, founder of the Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm, says Bayer is now in the process of settling certain Yasmin, Yaz and Ocella blood clot lawsuits.

Washington, DC: Attorneys representing Yasmin and Yaz plaintiffs nationwide are being contacted by Bayer to possibly reach settlements for their clients with pulmonary embolism and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) claims. One Yasmin attorney advises all claimants to ascertain whether their lawyer has been contacted by Bayer to reach a settlement and whether the amount offered by Bayer is fair.

Dallas, TX: "In late December 2011, Bayer blinked and asked the court to move all of the Yasmin and Yaz cases to settlement," says Dr. Shezad Malik, a cardiologist and attorney. He adds that Bayer, the manufacturer of the birth control pills, has indicated they will settle Yasmin/Yaz lawsuits with plaintiff law firms on an individual rolling basis.

Southlake, TX: An FDA advisory panel convened last December 2011 to look into the safety and efficacy of all oral contraceptives containing drospirenone, including Yasmin and Yaz. Dr. Shezad Malik, a cardiologist and attorney, discusses the outcome.

Dallas, TX: Cardiologist and attorney Dr. Shezad Malik says the recent Yasmin and Yaz litigation, including other oral contraceptives with drospirenone, is good news for thousands of women who have suffered side effects, which range from gallbladder problems to DVTS to stroke. And even death.

Dallas, TX: For the past three years, attorney and physician Dr. Shezad Malik has been working on Yasmin/Yaz lawsuits and his firm is involved in the federal MDL litigation which has been centralized in the Southern District of Illinois, in East St. Louis. "The first bellwether trials, which will take place in January 2012, will start with the pulmonary embolism cases, in April gallbladder cases, and DVT (deep vein thrombosis) cases will follow next summer," says Dr. Malik.

New York, NY: Women who have used Yasmin birth control or Yaz birth control pills, may not have realized they could be at a higher risk of side effects than with other birth control pills. They may not have realized just how serious Yaz side effects or Yasmin side effects could be. In fact, they may have thought that Yaz or Yasmin birth control was more effective and at least as safe as older methods of contraception. Unfortunately, according to Felecia Stern, partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, that may not be true.

Austin, TX: Shortly after Bayer added warnings to the labels of Yasmin and Yaz in Europe, the FDA in April 2010 forced the pharmaceutical company to place stronger warnings on its birth control pill in the US. So far, not much has changed: Bayer continues to state that the risk of blood clots is comparable to that of other birth control pills. "We are concerned that this new warning won't be strong enough," says Kristin Giaquinta Schoen, an attorney with Hissey Kientz LLP.

San Francisco, CA: There is nothing on the labels of Yasmin or Yaz alerting doctors to the fact that the fourth generation oral contraceptive poses twice the risk of blood clotting as earlier generation contraceptives. Are women aware of that risk? Do they realize that the second generation alternative is much safer? "These are claims made in the current Yasmin and Yaz litigation," says attorney Mark Crawford.

Cincinnati, OH: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals is about to be slapped with a wave of lawsuits over its popular birth control pill. There are hundreds of reported cases of heart attack, stroke and blood clots in the heart and lungs among women who have being using Bayer's Yasmin or Yaz birth control pill. "This is going to be a very significant area of litigation for some time to come," says attorney Janet Abaray, who has filed several complaints on behalf of women who have experienced serious adverse reactions.