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(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 29, 2012 ) Pittsburgh, PA -- In a recent vote, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed that the birth control, Yaz and Yasmin, had benefits that outweighed the costs. However, it has come to light that three of the FDA advisors on the hearing had ties with the maker of the birth control, serving as consultants, speakers or researchers.
The three doctors were members of a special committee assembled by the FDA to study the safety and effectiveness of Yaz, Yasmin, and two other birth control pills. Bayer, the manufacturer of the birth control pills, says that studies they have conducted show no excess danger, but other research including a study done by the FDA says otherwise.
In December 2011, when the hearing was held, a narrow vote of 15-11, the panel decided to keep the contraceptive on the market.
At the beginning of the meeting, FDA officials made it clear that all panelists were subject to federal conflicts of interests laws.
Women plaintiffs who are suing Bayer, alleging the birth control pills have harmed them, are urging U.S. District Judge, David Herndon, to examine evidence of conflicts of interests at the United States FDA.
Yasmin and Yaz are considered monophastic, combined oral contraceptives pills. The pills are made up of a combination of two main chemicals: drospirenone and ethinylestradiol. The complication seems to occur when drospirenone is processed in the body which can cause raised levels of potassium. This can be problematic for women with preexisting conditions such as obesity, diabetes, chronic high blood pressure, renal (kidney) conditions, history of stroke, or deep vein thrombosis. Other Yasmin side effects include pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease, and even death.
Federal lawsuits have been filed that claim since Yaz and Yasmin have been on the market and have been prescribed by physicians, there have been over 50 related deaths and other serious health conditions.
The FDA advisors voted on two questions: whether benefits of Yaz and Yasmin outweigh the risks and current labels adequately reflect the risk benefit profile of the product. Twenty-one members voted no and five voted yes to this question.
If you or someone you know is suffering from Yaz side effects, please contact LegalView for a free legal consultation with an experienced attorney. LegalView.com also has information about a wide variety of legal topics from transvaginal mesh to automobile accidents.
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