Mum joins action over blood clots
Natalie Bock hates seeing her medical alert bracelet every time she looks at her wrist.
The mother of two started wearing it after she developed blood clots while taking a contraceptive pill and sees it as a constant reminder of what did not need to be.
"I have lost my guarantee of where life is heading," Ms Bock, of Ocean Reef, said. "It just kills me that I am pretty much going to be on medication for life for something completely avoidable."
Ms Bock is one of 89 West Australians who have signed up to a potential lawsuit for women who have had health problems while taking Yasmin or Yaz.
The Australia-wide class action against the manufacturer of the contraceptive pills, pharmaceutical giant Bayer, is being investigated by law firm Tindall Gask Bentley.
Ms Bock developed two blood clots after being prescribed Yaz and was diagnosed with a blood disorder called Factor V Leiden that increases the risk of clots.
Her doctor told her the combination of Factor V and Yaz made her 35 times more likely to develop a life-threatening clot.
Ms Bock said doctors should have to test women for blood clotting disorders before prescribing Yaz or Yasmin.
"Yaz triggered off this condition that I didn't even know existed, let alone that I had it," she said.
It is believed more than 10,000 Americans have filed lawsuits against Bayer for failing to adequately warn women about the side effects of Yaz and Yasmin.
A Bayer spokeswoman said all medications carried benefits and risks and any legal action would be "vigorously defended".
"Given the low incidence of genetic blood disorders such as Factor V Leiden thrombophilia, it would not be cost-effective to introduce mass screening of women," she said.
About 825 women from across Australia have contacted TGB about the potential legal action.
TGB partner Tim White said some of the women were unknowingly suffering from conditions such as Factor V while they were on the pill.
"It highlights how important it is for medical practitioners to clearly discuss with their patients, in detail, the potential risks arising from a prescribed medication like Yaz or Yasmin," he said.
