Pharmacists Named in Birth Control Pill 'Yaz' Wrongful Death Suit

The mother of a recently deceased girl has filed suit against the manufacturer of a birth control pill, alleging her daughter died after developing a blood clot formed while taking the pill.

Dana A. Martin claims her daughter, Sophia Claire Martin, was taking the birth control pill Yaz at the time of her death on July 10, 2009.

When she began taking the pill in June 2009, Sophia Claire Martin had a condition known as an arteriovenous malformation of her right lower extremity -- an ailment that is a circulatory system defect and that affects blood flow, according to the complaint filed July 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Because of her condition, Sophia Claire Martin faced an increased risk of hemorrhage, the suit states.

Despite the arteriovenous malformation, Sophia Claire Martin began taking Yaz after picking it up at defendant Moody's Pharmacy on June 23, 2009, the complaint says.

Before allowing her daughter to take the pill, Dana A. Martin claims she questioned Moody's pharmacists, defendant Seamus N. Kloos and defendant Leslie Sauzek, about the use of the drug for Sophia Claire Martin.

Both reassured Dana A. Martin about the safety of the drug, never telling her of the potential risks it posed to people with blood disorders, such as Sophia Claire Martin, according to the complaint.

Soon after Sophia Claire Martin began taking the pill, she developed a blood clot that traveled to her lungs, the suit states. Directly before her death, she experienced shortness of breath and excruciating pain and suffering that lasted until she lost consciousness, the complaint says.

For the full article follow the www.madisonrecord.com link.

My name is Lawrence Land, I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the Martin family.  They are dealing with the tragedy of losing their daughter to something that should have been prevented.