A birth control drug called Yasmin has come to the forefront as being a dangerous drug. A hospital negligence suit was filed against a doctor — and the medical center which referred the woman to that physician — after a woman suffered a stroke and ended up wheelchair bound. An Illinois jury rendered its decision and ordered the physician to pay $14 million.
Back in 2007, a woman was prescribed Yasmin, but the doctor reportedly never reviewed the risks or side effects associated with taking it. Less than two weeks after taking the drug, the woman experienced a severe stroke. After the stroke, the woman was no longer able to move the left side of her body. According to the lawsuit, the doctor also failed to inform the patient that taking the drug when over the age of 35 can increase chances of hypertension.
The woman is now dependent on her family for around-the-clock care. According to the lawsuit, the stroke may have never occurred if the doctor would have prescribed a different medication. The plaintiffs stated that he had the alternative of prescribing progesterone which has little risk. In addition to the recent settlement, the hospital was ordered to pay the woman over $2 million last year.
Hospital negligence is the cause of many patient injuries that occur across the country. In this case, the woman survived her condition, but if the doctor acted appropriately, she may not have suffered a stroke in the first place. The patient’s family was able to demonstrate to an Illinois courtroom that her injuries were a result of negligence on the part of the hospital and the doctor. Medical malpractice claims may be appropriate remedies to financial relief for patients who were injured under physician care.
Source: rt.com, “$14 mln payout after birth control pills caused stroke“, , April 21, 2014
