Paragard Lawsuit Update March 2023

By Christy Bieber, J.D., reviewed by Mike Cetera
Updated September 8, 2022 - 9:26am
Forbes Advisor

“The Paragard IUD can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. And the device is marketed as being easy to remove since the doctor simply has to pull a removal cord.

However, some women allege that plastic arms at the base of the device do not flex upward as they are supposed to when the Paragard IUD is removed. Instead, the arms become rigid and break during the removal process. This can result in sharp plastic pieces becoming stuck inside the uterus. Some women required surgical removal of these plastic shards while others experienced ongoing or permanent complications.

Women who have been affected by problems with removal of the Paragard IUD have filed claims against the manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, as well as against CooperSurgical, which purchased the IUD device from Teva Pharmaceuticals in 2017.”

These lawsuits argue:

• Product liability claims based on an alleged defect in the design of the Paragard IUD

• Failure to warn based on an alleged failure of Teva Pharmaceuticals to alert patients to the potential risk that the device could break and cause complications

• Negligence on the part of the manufacturer

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