Many people rely on contraceptive products to avoid pregnancy and address other medical concerns. However, not all contraceptive products are equally safe or effective, and some can be defective, which can cause harm to its user. If you have suffered harm from a defective product, a Denver defective medical device lawyer can review your case and help you determine your rights and options.
What Is a Contraceptive Product?
There are many contraceptive products on the market today. These include oral contraceptive pills, patches, implants, injections, and Intrauterine devices (IUDs). Their main goal is usually to prevent pregnancy, but in some cases are taken for other medical reasons.
Some products are more reliable than others, and some have more risks than others. Where a contraceptive causes harm or is defective, a user may have a medical malpractice or wrongful birth claim against the manufacturer.
Signs of a Defective Contraceptive Product
Depending on which contraceptive product you are using, there are different indications that the product is faulty. Just because a product is on the market does not mean it is 100% safe and effective. Here are some common examples of contraceptive product defects, many of which can cause injury.
An IUD is a small plastic T-shaped birth control device that is inserted into the uterus. Defective IUDs can move from the uterus to other locations in the body and cause significant problems. In some cases, they can spontaneously explode, cause hemorrhaging, puncture intestinal or uterine walls, or lead to an ectopic pregnancy. Any of these issues can cause serious harm to a person’s body and potentially devastating long-term health complications.
A birth control pill is a daily oral contraceptive product that prevents pregnancy and can also be used to regulate hormonal and other issues. Birth control pills can also cause health problems. For example, some can cause dangerous blood clots or other significant issues. If a manufacturer knows about a potential health concern, it may be liable for people injured by its products.
Sometimes a defect of a contraceptive product is unrelated to safety but to the actual manufacturing process itself. If a company knows, for example, that there was an efficacy or quality control issue with birth control pills it produced and sent to market, it could be liable for unwanted pregnancies. Federal and state laws allow individuals to pursue lawsuits against drug companies whose birth control products fail to work as advertised. In some instances, these laws limit lawsuits to situations where a child is born with an injury or disability.
Consult With an Attorney
If you are faced with an injury, health issue, or unwanted pregnancy you suspect may be from a defective contraceptive product, you should consult with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. You may have limited time to pursue a claim under federal or state statutes. Our defective medical device attorneys serve clients nationwide and have years of experience litigating defective contraceptive claims. Contact us today for a free consultation.