Public Citizen, the consumer watchdog group, has called for women to stop using the dangerous Ortho Evra birth control patch.
Public Citizen warned consumers about the patch over two months ago, but just last week, the FDA acknowledged the increased risk of blood clots, which can ultimately lead to death.
According to the Ortho Evra statement from Dr. Sidney Wolfe, Director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group:
There is no medical reason for women to use the more dangerous Ortho Evra rather than one of the older, better understood, and equally effective oral contraceptives.
Ortho Evra lawyers are gathering information and attorneys have filed at least one Ortho Evra lawsuit (on behalf of 10 women) against Johnson and Johnson and its subsidiary, Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals.
Ortho Evra was introduced in 2002. Around 4 million women have used the contraceptive since it came on the market.