Depo Provera Lawsuit: Do I Qualify for Compensation? (2024)
Contributor
Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Editor
Summary
- Depo Provera is an injectable birth control medication
- This pharmaceutical product has been linked to several side effects
- Only a few patients have filed a depo provera lawsuit for adverse effects
Depo-Provera is a popular and highly effective birth control medication. Rather than taking a daily pill, patients receive injections every three months. The medication contains a hormone called progesterone that disrupts ovulation. It also thickens the mucus that surrounds the egg, forming a barrier to prevent fertilization.
Despite its popularity, Depo-Provera can cause side effects that can require treatment. These effects can even cause permanent disabilities or death. Although there have only been a few Depo-Provera lawsuits filed, injured patients and their attorneys may use new scientific evidence to pursue claims against pharmaceutical companies.
ConsumerShield helps consumers understand their legal situations and find lawyers to represent them. Contact us for a free case evaluation and an attorney referral.
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Side Effects That Could Support a Depo Provera Lawsuit
Depo-Provera has known risks, such as headaches, anxiety and depression. It can also cause a loss in bone density. However, a recent study points to a more serious and potentially life-threatening side effect. Women who take Depo-Provera appear to have an increased risk of developing non-cancerous brain tumors.
Specifically, a study conducted in France found that women exposed to progestogens contained in Depo-Provera had an increased risk of developing a meningioma. These tumors do not grow on the brain. Instead, they develop in the meninges, producing the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Blurry vision
- Hearing loss
- Seizures
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Poor coordination
- Slurred or impaired speech
- Amnesia
Most meningiomas are benign. This means they grow slowly and do not spread to other body systems. As a result, doctors have several treatment options, including surgery and radiation therapy. They may also choose not to treat the tumor if its effects are minor.
However, a small percentage of meningioma cases are cancerous. The resulting brain tumors grow aggressively. However, the number of malignant meningiomas is low compared to how many people die from cancer each year.
Also, both benign and malignant meningioma can cause life-threatening symptoms if they press on major nerves or brain regions. The impairments and disabilities from meningioma can significantly reduce your quality of life. For example, you may need to change jobs and alter your activities when you suffer from a meningioma that causes seizures.
Depo Provera can also cause other side effects including reduced bone density, anxiety and depression. Unlike meningioma, Pfizer warns patients and doctors of these risks. No studies have revealed any connection to long-term or permanent infertility. Women typically recover their fertility within a few months after ending their treatments.
Depo Provera Lawsuit Status
You will not find Depo Provera numbers in medical malpractice statistics. Doctors are generally not responsible for injuries that result from side effects the manufacturer fails to warn of. Instead, these usually result in product liability cases against the manufacturer.
Patients have not filed any class action lawsuits for injury or death caused by Depo Provera. Class action lawsuits occur when many people suffer similar injuries and have similar legal claims. The class action process allows each class action lawyer to share the burdens of recovering evidence and fighting motions.
The downside is that the entire class shares the damage award or settlement, resulting in smaller damage awards. Moreover, since the class is treated together, a jury will not hear the unique facts for any class member except the class representative.
Another litigation procedure for handling widespread injuries from defective drugs is called multidistrict litigation (MDL). Federal court cases filed in multiple geographic regions get consolidated into one federal court to be overseen by one district court judge.
An MDL case allows the victims to share discovery and cooperate on motions. However, the cases retain their separate characters and get tried separately.
There have not been enough cases filed against Depo Provera to justify the creation of an MDL. However, since the study tying the medication to meningiomas was only released in March 2024, the number of lawsuits against Pfizer and other manufacturers may increase. Once they reach a critical mass, the cases may be consolidated in an MDL.
Depo Provera Settlement Amounts
It is very early to talk about a Depo Provera settlement. However, if cases ultimately prove liability for meningiomas, drug manufacturers may be liable for economic and non-economic losses suffered by victims.
Economic losses include past and future medical expenses, lost income and diminished future earnings. These losses may be significant because of the cost of brain surgery and the lengthy recovery time required.
Non-economic losses cover the ways the meningioma reduces the victim’s quality of life. These losses may include the pain, mental suffering and disabilities caused by a meningioma. Again, a victim could suffer significant non-economic losses because of how a brain tumor can alter their quality of life.
To avoid paying a huge damage award to each victim, drug manufacturers facing an MDL will often offer a global settlement. This settlement usually includes a large fund that pays victims preset amounts based on factors such as age, disease and prognosis. More seriously injured patients will be eligible to receive larger payouts.
Contact ConsumerShield for Assistance
If you believe your use of Depo-Provera has caused a benign or malignant meningioma, you should speak to an attorney about your options. ConsumerShield provides lawyer referrals to people who need legal advice and representation. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Patients filed lawsuits against Pfizer, a Depo-Provera manufacturer, in and before 2023 for bone density loss and osteoporosis. However, scientists only discovered a link between Depo-Provera and brain tumors in March 2024. Thus, any lawsuits for this side effect will probably only get filed in 2024 or later.
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It is too early to know if Pfizer or other Depo-Provera manufacturers will face a class action lawsuit. How to start a class action lawsuit? Depo-Provera lawsuit lawyers must establish that a “numerous” class exists with common facts and injuries that give them a typical set of legal claims.
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Scientists have not found a link between Depo-Provera and long-term or permanent infertility. On the contrary, they have found that women regain their fertility in about five and a half months after ceasing the use of the medication. However, future scientific studies could provide support for such claims.
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Yes. However, Depo-Provera has been linked to only one type of rare cancer called Type III meningioma. Most cases of meningioma are classified as benign, with only about 10% to 15% of cases classified as cancerous. There are no studies linking Depo-Provera to other types of cancer.
