Dangerous Drugs & Medical Devices Class Action Cases

Every year, thousands of Americans take a medication or undergo a medical procedure trusting that the product has been thoroughly tested and proven safe. Unfortunately, that trust is often broken. Dangerous prescription drugs and faulty medical devices can leave people with life-altering injuries, serious health complications, or even the loss of a loved one.

When this happens, lawsuits are not only about financial recovery — they’re about accountability. Drug manufacturers and medical device companies make billions of dollars each year, and they have a legal duty to warn patients and doctors about risks. When they hide those risks, minimize them, or release unsafe products anyway, class action lawsuits give patients and families a voice.

What Are Dangerous Drug & Medical Device Cases?

Dangerous drug and medical device cases are for groups of people who were harmed by a supposedly safe and approved product. These are usually class action cases or multidistrict litigations (MDLs) where multiple victims join together. This collective approach puts more pressure on corporations and ensures individual victims don’t get lost in the shuffle.

Common examples include:

• Prescription Drugs, meaning Medications linked to dangerous, life-threatening, and life-changing consequences.

  • Active Litigation / MDLs:

    • Ozempic / Wegovy / Rybelsus / Mounjaro (GLP-1 agonists – gastroparesis, ileus – active MDL)

    • Zantac (ranitidine) – NDMA contamination, cancer risk – active MDL

    • Xarelto / Eliquis / Pradaxa (anticoagulants – bleeding complications – active litigation)

    • Elmiron (vision damage, pigmentary maculopathy – active litigation)

    • Invokana / Farxiga / Jardiance (SGLT2 inhibitors – infections, amputations, ketoacidosis – active litigation)

  • Settled / Resolved:

    • Vioxx (rofecoxib – cardiovascular risk – withdrawn, major settlement)

    • Actos (pioglitazone – bladder cancer – settled in part, mixed outcomes)

    • Avandia (rosiglitazone – heart risks – past settlements)

• Over-the-Counter Drugs – Everyday medications later found to cause long-term damage.

  • Active Litigation / MDLs:

    • Tylenol / Acetaminophen (prenatal exposure – autism/ADHD claims – active MDL)

    • Zantac (also OTC versions) – NDMA contamination and cancer – active MDL)

  • Settled / Resolved:

    • Various cough/cold medicines recalled for contamination (resolved recalls, limited suits)

• Implants and Devices – Pacemakers, artificial hips, surgical mesh, these are devices that came to market to save lives that ended up devastating lives and families.

  • Active Litigation / MDLs:

    • Hernia mesh (Ethicon, Bard, Atrium, Covidien – chronic pain, complications – active MDL)

    • Transvaginal mesh (multiple manufacturers – erosion, organ perforation – active MDL)

    • Hip implants (DePuy, Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Zimmer – metallosis, device failure – active litigation)

    • Exactech knee, hip, and ankle implants (premature failure, recall lawsuits – active MDL)

    • Philips CPAP and BiPAP machines (foam degradation, cancer risk – active MDL)

  • Settled / Resolved:

    • Sulzer Hip Implants (early 2000s – major settlement)

    • Guidant / Medtronic Pacemaker recalls (resolved with payouts, ongoing monitoring)

• Birth Control & Fertility Products involve serious medical complications, death, or other devastating side effects.

  • Active Litigation / MDLs:

    • Paragard IUD (breakage, injuries during removal – active MDL)

    • Mirena IUD (migration, pseudotumor cerebri litigation – active litigation)

    • Essure sterilization implant (device migration, perforation – active litigation)

    • Depo-Provera (Pfizer injectable contraceptive – meningioma / brain tumor risk – active litigation)

  • Settled / Resolved:

    • Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella (blood clots, strokes – large settlements, some claims ongoing)

    • NuvaRing (clotting risks – many settled, limited active claims)

Why These Cases Matter

The FDA has the job of reviewing drugs and devices before they go to market. Approval doesn’t always mean safety. Many of the most well-known cases involved products that were FDA-approved.

• There was a case in 2012 where Johnson & Johnson paid over $2.2 billion to settle civil claims related to the promotion of Risperdal.
• Between 2010–2017, multiple hip implant recalls led to lawsuits worth billions of dollars after patients experienced metal poisoning and device failures.
• The opioid epidemic, fueled in part by Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin, has led to historic settlements topping $50 billion nationwide.
• These cases don’t just recover money. They change industry behavior and force companies to rethink how they test and market products.

Types of Dangerous Drug & Medical Device Cases

1. Prescription Drug Cases

These involve medications with dangerous side effects that were either hidden or downplayed. Many drugs have been recalled or linked to lawsuits after being tied to cancer, heart failure, or suicidal ideation.

Examples:

• Antidepressants linked to birth defects.
• Diabetes medications later connected to pancreatic cancer.
• Painkillers fueling opioid addiction.

2. Medical Device Cases

Devices are supposed to improve health, not worsen it. Yet bad implants or surgical tools can leave patients in worse condition than before their procedure.

Examples:

• Hip and Knee Implants – Metal-on-metal designs causes tissue damage.
• Transvaginal Mesh – Devices deteriorating into organs, leading to thousands of lawsuits.
• Defibrillators & Pacemakers – Malfunctions that could end lives.

3. Over-the-Counter Drug Cases

Even non-prescription products can be harmful. Recent cases involve medications recalled after years on store shelves.

Examples:

• Heartburn medications later linked to cancer.
• Pain relievers tied to liver damage with long-term use.

4. Birth Control & Fertility Product Cases

Products aimed at reproductive health have been central to major lawsuits.

Examples:

• Birth control devices linked to strokes and blood clots.
• Fertility drugs connected to higher cancer risks.

The Class Action Process

Joining a dangerous drug or device lawsuit may sound overwhelming, but it’s actually straightforward. On HaveALawyer.com, we make sure the process is simple and supportive:

1. Fill Out the Case Form – Provide your basic details and information about the product you used.
2. Phone Intake Call – Once your form is received, a trained case intake specialist will reach out by phone. They’ll confirm eligibility, gather more details, and answer your first questions.
3. Case Review – Your information is reviewed by attorneys experienced in drug and device litigation.
4. Case Joining – If you qualify, your case is added to a larger group, ensuring strength in numbers.
5. Updates & Support – You’ll be kept informed about progress, settlements, and next steps as the case moves forward.

How Victims Benefit

These cases often result in significant financial compensation. Settlements may cover:

• Medical bills and future care
• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death damages for families

But just as important, they shine a spotlight on unsafe practices and stop future harm. Every case adds momentum toward greater accountability.

Why Work With Us

HaveALawyer.com focuses on the client. Our goal is to explain the process clearly, connect experienced attorneys, and you can rest easythat someone is fighting in your corner.

We know how intense it feels to face medical issues you didn’t expect. Our team handles the heavy lifting while you focus on your health and family.

Final Thought

Dangerous drug and medical device class action cases are about more than lawsuits — they’re about standing up to corporations that value profit over people. By joining together, victims make their voices impossible to ignore.

If you or a loved one suffered from a dangerous prescription drug, faulty implant, or defective medical product, now is the time to learn your rights.

Start by filling out our case form today. Within 24 hours, a case intake specialist will reach out to discuss your eligibility and next steps.