Paragard IUD Mass Tort Lawyers

If you sustained an injury or experienced complications while using a defective Paragard IUD, do not hesitate to contact the defective medical device attorneys of Wallace Miller. You might be eligible to participate in a mass tort lawsuit against the manufacturer. You could recover compensation to cover your medical bills and other expenses you incur from your injury.

Paragard is a small intrauterine device (IUD) that provides long-term birth control. A healthcare provider inserts the T-shaped device into the uterus. It protects a woman against pregnancy by stopping sperm from fertilizing eggs. It doesn’t contain hormones and can remain inserted for up to ten years, making it a popular type of contraception.

You also don’t have to wait ten years before removal. You can have your doctor remove it sooner if you want to get pregnant or switch to another form of birth control.

If the IUD gets stuck or a piece breaks off, it can cause serious internal injuries, including organ perforation and infections. The manufacturer didn’t provide adequate warning labels for doctors and patients. Instead, they chose to hide the potential risks of the birth control device.

At Wallace Miller, our Paragard IUD mass tort lawyers are ready to represent you in your mass tort case. We can create a personalized strategy to meet your unique needs and try to reach the best possible outcome. We will provide the legal guidance and representation you deserve until the end. Let us help you in the fight for justice.

Call Wallace Miller at (312) 261-6193 today and learn more about your available legal options.

How Paragard Works

Paragard is a T-shaped copper IUD. The device has copper wires coiled around it that produce an inflammatory reaction that is toxic to eggs and sperm. This prevents pregnancy for as long as ten years while the device is inserted into the uterus. It remains effective for the entire ten years without the need for removal at intervals.

The manufacturer CooperSurgical, Inc. markets Paragard as beneficial for long-term birth control. Benefits include:

• The device can remain in place for up to ten years
• A doctor can remove the IUD at any time
• No need to interrupt sex for this form of contraception
• It eliminates the risk of blood clots since the device doesn’t contain hormones
• Provides an emergency form of contraception as long as insertion happens within five days of having unprotected sex

The most common side effects of Paragard the manufacturer lists on its website include:

• Pain during sex
• Anemia
• Backache
• Prolonged periods
• Vaginal discharge
• Cramping and pain
• Partial or complete expulsion
• Vaginal irritation
• Painful periods
• Spotting

However, this isn’t a complete list of the risks that come with the IUD. Various complications can arise that lead to injuries. Sometimes, surgery is necessary to remove fractured pieces and repair internal injuries.

Common Types of Defects in Medical Devices

Product liability is an area of law that holds manufacturers and sellers liable for providing the public with dangerous products. When you sustain an injury while using a defective medical device, you have a right to seek legal action against the manufacturer or another negligent party.

Three types of defects can injure consumers:

• Design defect – A design defect occurs when an error in the planning, development, or design phase makes the product dangerous to use.
• Manufacturing defect – A manufacturing defect results from a flaw, error, or problem while manufacturing a product. Even though the manufacturer uses a safe design, the defect creates an inherently unsafe product.
• Failure to warn – Manufacturers must meet safety and quality standards when marketing their products. That means they must include clear instructions for using the product correctly and warning labels, so consumers know about potential risks. Hiding the dangers or providing confusing instructions can lead to an injury.

At Wallace Miller, our Paragard IUD mass tort lawyers know how to handle product liability matters. We will review the circumstances of your case to determine whether we can hold the manufacturer liable for your injury. You might be able to join a mass tort lawsuit if you meet specific requirements.

Risks Associated with a Defective Paragard IUD

A range of complications can arise from the defects in a Paragard IUD. The manufacturer marketed the medical device as safe and easy to remove. The arms are supposed to fold as the doctor removes the IUD. However, the device can fracture, causing pieces to travel to other parts of the body and damage internal organs and tissue.

The most commonly reported complications of a defective Paragard include:

• Uterine or cervical perforation – A fractured piece of the IUD can puncture the cervix or uterus.
• Infections – A contaminated device can cause bacteria to travel throughout the body. An infection could form after insertion if the bacteria travel to the ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – PID often results from a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection. However, bacteria could enter a female’s reproductive tract during IUD insertion. Symptoms can include fever, pain, heavy or unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and frequent, painful urination.
• Infertility – PID could cause fertility issues if left untreated.
• Fractured pieces – Pieces of the device could break off during removal. Those pieces might migrate to another part of the body or become lodged in an internal organ.
• Device migration – The device can perforate the uterine wall and migrate from the original insertion site to a nearby organ or the pelvic area.

A defective Paragard IUD can also lead to other complications and injuries, such as:

• Internal scarring
• IUD embedded in the wall of the uterus
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Surgery to remove a device that is stuck or fractured
• Painful intercourse
• Inflammation or injury from a fractured copper wire still in the body
• Spotting and cramping between periods
• Heavy bleeding and severe abdominal pain while menstruating

Invasive surgery is sometimes necessary to retrieve missing pieces if the IUD breaks during removal. Migrating devices and parts can puncture organs, damage tissue, and cause internal bleeding.

Many people require ongoing treatment to heal their injuries. The cost of medical bills can be expensive and lead to financial burdens. You can face debt if you can’t afford the bills associated with Paragard complications.

Paragard IUD Recalls

Paragard is still available for use as a form of contraception. The manufacturer has not issued any recalls due to device fracture and other reported problems. However, the manufacturer recalled two of its lots in April 2014 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received complaints of a misleading or false promotional video.

Additionally, the manufacturer filed multiple reports from women claiming injuries while using the IUD. Over 3,000 reports cite device breakage, with around 2,000 reports discussing the complications from device breakage. An additional 100 reports included incidents of life-threatening complications or hospitalizations.

Compensation for Paragard IUD Injuries

Wallace Miller might be able to represent you in a mass tort case if you qualify. Mass tort lawsuits consolidate lawsuits from a large group of plaintiffs into a single legal action. Each person must have an injury from the same defective device and pursue compensation from the same defendant.

You also have the option of filing an individual lawsuit against the manufacturer. Either way, the compensation you recover could compensate you for your injury-related losses, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical bills
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

You might also be able to seek punitive or exemplary damages from the negligent party. This type of financial award punishes the defendant for their actions and aims to deter similar misconduct in the future. State law requires clear and convincing evidence of specific behavior displayed by the defendant.

Statute of Limitations for a Mass Tort Lawsuit

There isn’t a law that provides a general timeframe for mass tort cases. You must file within the time period specified by the statute of limitations for product liability lawsuits in the state where you reside. The specific timeframe you have to file your lawsuit against the at-fault party begins on the date of your injury.

For example, if your state has a five-year statutory period, you will have five years from the date you sustained an injury from the defective IUD to initiate your lawsuit.

Wallace Miller is familiar with the statutes of limitation in various states around the country. We can prepare your case and file your lawsuit before time runs out.

Contact Us

Wallace Miller has decades of experience handling mass tort lawsuits for injured clients. We believe in fighting for people suffering from the wrongdoing of others. You will have a dedicated and aggressive legal team in your corner when you hire us.

You can count on us to provide ongoing communication, so you always know the status of your case. We take pride in the level of service we provide to each of our clients. You will be our top priority until the end of legal proceedings.

If a defective Paragard IUD caused your injury or medical complications, call Wallace Miller at (312) 261-6193 right now for your free consultation. One of our Paragard IUD mass tort lawyers will be happy to meet with you to determine whether we can represent you in a mass tort case against CooperSurgical.