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Fidelma Fitzpatrick to lead national Paragard IUD lawsuits

U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May appointed Motley Rice medical attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee that will lead the national consolidation of cases or multidistrict litigation for women who allege they suffered severe complications after receiving CooperSurgical’s Paragard® IUD.

Paragard is a T-shaped, hormone-free means of birth control that is made of flexible plastic with a thin copper layer. The device is removable and lasts up to 10 years. Thousands of women with Paragard have reported severe health problems after receiving the device as well as at least 15 deaths, according to publicly available data in the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database that is intended to help identify potential safety concerns related to medical products. Women in the litigation allege health problems including:

  • Inflammation caused by copper left in the body
  • Hysterectomy
  • Perforation of the uterine wall or cervix
  • Scarring and damage to other organs

“The circumstances that we’re seeing surrounding Paragard are particularly tragic because many of the women chose this IUD because they thought it would be a temporary means of effective birth control. Instead, the women believe they were met with life-threatening complications that, in many cases, led to permanent infertility,” said Motley Rice medical attorney for the plaintiffs, Fidelma Fitzpatrick. “My heart breaks for these women, knowing that the damage can never be undone. They’re entitled to seek justice, and I’m proud to be among the lawyers appointed to help women on the national level of this litigation.”

Motley Rice has extensive experience litigating for women who have suffered serious injuries and adverse effects related to birth control, including Fidelma Fitzpatrick’s role as lead counsel of the PEC for Essure® litigation coordinated in California state court. A settlement reached in August 2020 resolved thousands of the women’s claims.

The case is In re Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2974, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.

For more information or to discuss a potential claim, contact Fidelma Fitzpatrick by email or call 1.800.768.4026.