Fitzpatrick Questions FDA Over Essure Data, Alleged Kickbacks | Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick

Dear Dr. Shuren,

As you are aware, thousands of women have filed formal complaints to the Food and Drug Administration regarding the permanent contraceptive device Essure. These injured women have reported numerous symptoms related to this FDA-approved device, such as extreme pelvic pain, allergic and immunological reactions, heavy bleeding, unexplained weight gain, loss of teeth and hair, and broken coils migrating throughout their body and puncturing internal organs.
Tragically, this device has also killed innocent women and unborn children. The FDA’s public materials related to Essure have cited five reports of fetal deaths.
However, my office is in receipt of a review of adverse event reports related to Essure, conducted by women harmed by this device and an adverse event data expert. This independent report counts 303 fetal deaths. A copy of this report is enclosed.
In light of this immense discrepancy, I request that the FDA conduct a thorough review of this document and all of the adverse event reports received by those harmed by Essure as part of FDA’s on-going review of this medical device.
Additionally, my office is in receipt of an unsealed complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California which named the United States of America, 27 States, and the District of Columbia as plaintiffs against Conceptus, Inc., Bayer AG, Inc. and Bayer Healthcare, LLC. A copy of the complaint is enclosed.