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Ortho Evra Deaths

Ortho Evra Deaths from Blood Clots
According to death reports received by the FDA, Ortho Evra may be Ortho Evra Patchresponsible for at least 23 deaths, 17 of which were caused by blood clots. These women’s deaths occurred after suffering fatal blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks, which are all complications associated with the Ortho Evra birth control patch.

The first recorded death linked to Ortho Evra occurred in 2004. Zakiya Kennedy, an 18-year-old college student, collapsed while waiting for the subway in New York City. She was rushed to the hospital but died on the way there. Her death was initially a mystery, but an autopsy later revealed that Zakiya’s death was the result of a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lungs. The medical examiner stated that Ortho Evra was to blame for the young woman’s death.

Before long, it emerged that Zakiya Kennedy's death was not an isolated

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event. Although blood clots in women under 39 years old are extremely rare, many young women have developed blood clots after using Ortho Evra. For example, lawsuits against Ortho Evra’s manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, allege that two women developed pulmonary embolisms after using the Ortho Evra patch for only 7 months.

Ortho Evra Deaths from Heart Attacks and Strokes
All together, current litigation over Ortho Evra suggests that at least 23 women’s deaths were caused by wearing the patch.  While most Ortho Evra deaths have been from fatal blood clots, several deaths have resulted from heart attacks and strokes as well. In fact, current Ortho Evra litigation suggests that women as young as 18 are at risk for suffering from a fatal stroke or heart attack if they use the patch. 

One specific Ortho Evra wrongful death lawsuit, filed by a mother, claims that Ortho Evra caused her 24-year-old daughter’s death. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, the daughter began to have chest pains after using the birth control patch, but because the daughter was so young, doctors did not suspect that she had any heart problems. Tragically, the daughter ended up having two massive heart attacks in 2004 which left her brain-dead.

Did Ortho Evra cause your family member’s death? Contact our experienced Ortho Evra attorneys to learn more about your legal rights.


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Ortho-evra-patch Quick Facts

Ortho-evra-patch Quick Reference Guide
Other Names:

Ethinyl estradiol
Norelgestromin

Date Approved:
November 2001

Manufacturer:
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson

Status:
Black Box Warning

Approved Uses:
Birth control

Off Label Uses:
Relief from PMS symptoms
Relief from heavy menstrual bleeding 

Serious Side Effects:
Blood Clots
Stroke
Heart Attacks
Pulmonary Embolism
Death
Sudden migraine headaches
Depression
Jaundice
Stomach pain, loss of appetite
Swelling in hands, feet, or ankles
Chest pain

Common Misspellings:
Ortho Evera
Ortho Evara

Related Topics:
Birth control
Blood Clots
Stroke
Heart Attacks