Yaz Attorney A.J. De Bartolomeo answers questions about Yaz on Trial
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Ever wonder why we started our blog? Find out why!
Yaz on Trial author and Girard Gibbs' Partner A.J. De Bartolomeo was recently interviewed about blogging, the lawsuits against the makers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, and her recent appointment to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the Yaz and Yasmin Multi-District Litigation. Here's an excerpt from the interview:
Lisa Kennelly: Why did you decide to start a blog?
A.J. De Bartolomeo: Earlier this year we were contacted by a mother of 3-year old twins who had suffered a stroke and permanent brain damage after taking the birth control pill Yaz (which incidentally is the top-selling birth control pill sold in the U.S.). We began investigating her claims further and soon learned that she was not alone and that many women had suffered severe health side effects after taking the birth control pills Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. The injuries ranged from strokes to blood clots to gallbladder disease and many other serious health problems. When we spoke to these women and their families they repeatedly questioned why they hadn't heard about these health risks and wanted to know what was going on with the lawsuits against the makers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.
Based on those conversations, my co-counsel, Mike Danko and I decided to start our blog, Yaz on Trial. We felt that something was needed to get the word out to women and educate people about the health risks associated with these drugs and a blog seemed a great way to do that. We recognize that mass litigation, like the Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits, can be very complicated and difficult to understand, so we wanted to create an outlet for women and their families to get a clear understanding of how the litigation is playing out. One thing led to another and Yaz on Trial was born.
Lisa Kennelly: What has been most rewarding about blogging?
A.J. De Bartolomeo: The most rewarding thing about blogging is having the opportunity to connect to people through the blog itself. We speak to women every day who have questions about the litigation against the makers of Yaz and Yasmin, and we have found that typically when one person has a question, many others have the same question as well. The blog is a great way to help answer some of those questions and keep people informed about the litigation. A good example is our post about the Yasmin and Yaz Multi-District litigation. Several people had questions about what Multi-District Litigation was and found that post very helpful.
