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<docID>335016</docID>
<postdate>2024-12-10 13:22:33</postdate>
<headline>Contraceptive device did not harm women, judge finds</headline>
<body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335017" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20230424001790333112-original-resized-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p>
<caption>Patrice Turner (centre) led the class action claiming women suffered harm from the Essure device. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)</caption>
<p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Tara Cosoleto</strong> in Melbourne</span></p>
<p><strong>A contraceptive device did not directly cause chronic pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding in women, a judge has found.Â </strong></p>
<p>Victorian Supreme Court Justice Andrew Keogh handed down his decision on Tuesday, marking the end of a years-long class action against Bayer Australia and five other companies.</p>
<p>The class action, led by Victorian Patrice Turner, claimed women suffered harm as a direct result of the Essure device being implanted into their bodies.</p>
<p>Ms Turner underwent a hysterectomy at 32, five years after the contraceptive device was inserted into both of her fallopian tubes.</p>
<p>She claimed she suffered severe pelvic pain and heavy uterine bleeding, which resolved after she underwent the major abdominal surgery.</p>
<p>Ms Turner and the other class action members alleged Bayer Australia and the other companies involved in Essure's design, manufacturing and marketing breached a duty of care.</p>
<p>Justice Keogh found Ms Turner and the class action members could not make their claims out.</p>
<p>He said he was not satisfied they established the Essure device caused inflammation, and subsequent pain and abnormal bleeding in women.</p>
<p>The case went to trial in the Victorian Supreme Court in 2023.</p>
<p>The contraceptive device was discontinued by Bayer for commercial reasons in 2017.</p>
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