The birth control device, Essure, has caused many women adverse side effects, and now reports claim that the manufacturer, Bayer, gave payments to doctors for “consulting fees and other similar services” related to Essure. From August 2013 to December 2017, Bayer paid a total of $2.5 million to 11,850 doctors. While it is legal for companies to do this, it is an extremely controversial practice. Some critics of these payments compare it to being a legalized bribe.
The Physician Payments Sunshine Act that was passed in 2010, requires manufacturers to disclose any payments they give to physicians and hospitals. This information gets published annually in a public database, which is meant to increase transparency around these payments. Studies conducted by scientists at Harvard Medical School show that when a doctor receives payment from a pharmaceutical company, they are more likely to prescribe the company’s product.
According to a CNN report, one woman stated that her doctor seemed to be a “cheerleader” for Essure. She initially inquired about a tubal ligation, however her doctor insisted that Essure was a better option. At her doctor’s recommendation, she had Essure implanted and eventually required a hysterectomy to remove the device. The woman later discovered that her doctor was paid a total of $168,068 from Bayer. Many women who had Essure implanted now wonder if the device was recommended to them because because their doctor received payments from Bayer, or if the device was legitimately the best option for them. This is especially alarming considering the side effects and complications women experienced as a result of having Essure implanted.
Women have reported the following side effects:
- Autoimmune responses
- Metal poisoning
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Migration of the device
- Expulsion of the device
- Perforation of organs
- Hysterectomy
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Fetal death
After women continued to report adverse side effects, sales for the device plummeted. As a result, Bayer decided to remove the product from the market. Bayer continues to deny the danger of their product, despite the claims of thousands of women. So far, over 16,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer.
If you or loved one suffered from an Essure device, contact the Law Offices of Rudolph F.X. Migliore. We understand that filing a lawsuit can be upsetting, and we want to help. We are with you through every step of the lawsuit process, so you are never alone. Call our Long Island office at 631-543-3663 to schedule a free consultation. When it comes to your case, we are your point of contact.