Questions about a Paragard® IUD Lawsuit?
talk to an understanding Houston Paragard lawyer about filing a claim
Were you injured by the Paragard intrauterine device (IUD)? If so, you may be able to bring a Paragard IUD lawsuit. While a Paragard lawsuit won’t take away the pain and stress you’ve suffered, a skilled worker compensation lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and potentially secure financial compensation for your injuries. Many women who trustingly used this birth-control device have been injured by its dangerous side effects. An estimated 240,000-250,000 of these IUDs have been implanted in the last 20 years.
A variety of problems have been reported by users of this medical device — from breaking apart inside the body, to puncturing the uterus, to causing infections that can potentially result in sterility.
And although the Paragard IUD is FDA approved, that is small comfort for women who have had to undergo emergency surgeries and other invasive treatments because of it.
If you’ve been hurt by the Paragard IUD, our Houston law firm will investigate your case to see whether you might have a legal claim. Call a knowledgeable Paragard lawyer at the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant today to schedule a free consultation. We can be reached at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.
Your health shouldn’t be compromised by a defective medical device. If you’ve suffered a Paragard IUD injury, contact a skilled Paragard attorney today.
serious side effects of using the Paragard IUD
Problems requiring invasive surgeries
The Paragard IUD is a T-shaped device that a doctor inserts in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The plastic device is wrapped with copper, which basically acts as a spermicide. It is approved to be effective and stay in the uterus for as long as 10 years. If you or a loved one has experienced complications related to the Paragard IUD, it may be advisable to consult a birth injury lawyer. It is approved to be effective and stay in the uterus for as long as 10 years. Because the Paragard IUD doesn’t use hormones, it has generally been thought to be safer than hormonal birth control methods. Unfortunately, though, the Paragard IUD has numerous side effects. Common ones include spotting between menstrual periods and longer and heavier periods.
More serious effects, as described in the device-maker’s own literature, include:
- Perforation of the uterus. A break in the uterine wall can result in infection, scarring and organ damage. When perforation happens, surgery may be necessary to remove the IUD.
- The device may become stuck in the uterus, making it difficult to remove. Again, invasive surgery may be necessary to remove it.
- The Paragard IUD can fall out, either completely or partially. In either case, women who don’t know it has fallen out can become pregnant.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes and other nearby organs. In serious cases it can cause chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy or infertility. In some instances, surgery or even hysterectomy is the result. There have also been rare instances of death caused by PID.
Dangerous fractures in the body have been frequently reported
Although the Paragard IUD has been marketed by the manufacturer as being easy to remove, this isn’t always the case. The arms of the T-shaped device are supposed to fold upward upon removal, and the device should gently slide out. Unfortunately, the Paragard IUD can become brittle, causing the arms to break off upon removal. It can also fracture before removal. Fragments of the device can become embedded in the uterus, requiring invasive surgery to remove. Surgeries and procedures that some women have faced after the IUD fractured and became embedded include:
- Hysteroscopy – Removal of IUD fragments using a scope inserted through the vagina into the uterus
- Laparoscopy – Surgery using several small incisions to access the uterine area
- Laparotomy – More invasive surgery using a large incision to access the abdomen
- Hysterectomy – Removal of the uterus
Other possible issues with the Paragard IUD include:
- Allergic reactions
- Anemia
- Backache
- Cramping
- Fainting
- Pain during sex
- Vaginal infections or discharge.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PURSUE COMPENSATION IF YOU HAVE BEEN HURT WHEN USING THE PARAGARD IUD
You can see that the side effects of the Paragard IUD can be dangerous. While many people don’t experience problems with it, for the ones who do, the pain can be debilitating. Speak to an experienced Houston defective medical device lawyer, specializing in cases involving the Paragard IUD, who will review your case if you have been injured by this defective medical device or were injured because it was negligently implanted.
Call the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant at (713) 973-8888. We provide free consultations to help our valued clients understand their options.
understanding what your Paragard lawsuit settlement amount could be
Every case is different — our Paragard lawyer can tell you what yours may be worth
The amount of compensation you might get in a Paragard lawsuit settlement depends upon the seriousness of your injuries and other specific facts in your case. How much you might get is based on the damages, or losses, you suffered. Some of the typical damages that might be awarded in defective medical devices lawsuits include the following:
- Medical expenses such as doctor visits, hospital costs, surgeries, diagnostics such as ultrasound, and prescription and over-the-counter drug costs.
- Lost wages if you miss time at work because of your Paragard IUD injuries.
- Pain and suffering, which takes into account possible long-term physical pain, emotional distress and trauma, often requires the specialized skills of a brain injury lawyer to effectively address the complicated aspects of such cases.
It’s impossible to say how much your Paragard lawsuit settlement amount might be without understanding the details of your injury. An experienced Paragard lawyer from our firm can provide more specific information after assessing your case. Call the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation.
how do I know whether I have a Paragard IUD lawsuit case?
Our Paragard attorney will help you understand your options
If you used the Paragard IUD and it shattered in your body, caused an infection, or otherwise injured you, you may have a defective medical device claim against the manufacturer. In some cases, the doctor who implanted the device may also be held liable if the insertion was done incorrectly, causing the device to harm you. Improper insertion can be a reason for the IUD to penetrate the uterus or other organs.
It’s important to speak with a Paragard attorney about all the details of your case. Our attorney will investigate and help you understand your options for bringing a Paragard IUD lawsuit. Call us today at (713) 973-8888 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
who is responsible for making the Paragard IUD?
The Cooper Companies own and manufacture the Paragard IUD. The medical device company bought rights to the IUD from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in 2017. The purchase price for the device was an astronomical $1.1 billion.
As you can see from that dollar amount, medical devices are big business. The companies that make them aim to maximize profits. On other other hand, doctors rely on these devices to treat health conditions or, in the case of the Paragard IUD, to prevent pregnancy. But big drug and medical device manufacturers should be held responsible when their defective products injure people. We can help you hold them responsible for your injuries with the assistance of a skilled product injury lawyer.
You can speak with a Paragard attorney by calling our Houston law firm at (713) 973-8888 or filling out our online form. Terry Bryant is a former Texas judge who has practiced law in the state for more than 40 years. He and the firm’s other attorneys have extensive experience taking on defective medical device cases. We will fight for your right to compensation when you have been injured.
common questions about Paragard lawsuits
Here are some of the common questions our law firm receives about Paragard lawsuits.
There is currently no recall in effect on the Paragard IUD. Often, in cases where medical devices have injured people, manufacturers will issue voluntary recalls out of a concern for public safety and because they don’t want to be sued. When companies don’t voluntarily recall a dangerous device, the FDA may force a recall. Neither of these things has happened in the case of the Paragard IUD.
There are many individual lawsuits against the manufacturer over Paragard. Lawsuits allege that the IUD has design and manufacturing defects. They also say that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn doctors and patients in its labeling and other literature about the risk of its fracturing in the body or causing other injuries. To date, there is not a class-action suit in which a large group of people have filed a claim together against the device. There is multi-district litigation centralized in Georgia that includes individual cases from throughout the country.
There have been no Paragard trials or settlements yet. Once the first cases go to trial and are decided, they will most likely be seen as “bellwethers,” which can indicate how much subsequent settlements will pay in compensation.
Your Paragard lawyer will handle all the paperwork involved in bringing a claim. We’ll collect and review all of your medical records and other evidence to establish negligence. This will include consulting with medical experts to determine the cause of your injuries. Then we will seek to negotiate a fair settlement with the manufacturer and their insurance company. If the manufacturer won’t provide an adequate settlement offer, we’ll advise you about going to trial and represent you in that process.
When you hire our law firm, you pay us only if and when you win compensation through a negotiated settlement or a jury award. If we don’t get you compensation for your injuries, you don’t pay us anything. We also provide free, no-obligation consultations, so you have nothing to lose by speaking with us.
get advice from our knowledgeable Paragard IUD attorney in Houston
You shouldn’t wait to speak to a Paragard attorney if you’ve been injured by the IUD. If you wait too long, you will most likely lose the opportunity to bring a claim. You will miss out on getting possible compensation for what you have suffered. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for filing defective medical devices lawsuits. There are exceptions to this statute, though, so always speak directly to a Houston attorney about the specific timeframes in your Paragard IUD lawsuit.
Don’t let time run out on you. A Paragard IUD attorney from the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant in Houston can look at the circumstances of your injury and advise you whether you might have a Paragard IUD lawsuit. We will also explain your options for joining a class action lawsuit (or MDL) if that is a possibility. A class action suit is a legal claim brought by a large group of people who have been harmed by the same defective medical device.
Contact our law firm today by calling (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000. We provide free, no-obligation consultations, so you have nothing to lose and possibly much to gain.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
