Her 16-year-old daughter died because of her contraceptive patch, she calls for vigilance

A mother from Lanaudière still “really shocked” by the death of her 16-year-old daughter in April 2022 because of her contraceptive patch calls for vigilance from the population in order to prevent other tragedies.

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“My daughter was full of energy, she was in very good health,” assures Nathalie Ménard, still shaken. I find it deplorable to have reached this point without being able to do anything.”

In April 2022, Jennifer Ménard Morneau collapsed, during a school morning like any other.

Despite all the efforts of emergency services and health personnel, he was declared dead a few days later.

“Taking the contraceptive patch since March 10, 2022 is apparently the condition that triggered the cascade of events leading to his death,” coroner Amélie Lavigne wrote in a recent report.

Concerns

It was that after the failure of the IUD installation which had made Jennifer ill, she was given a prescription for the Evra patch.

This method of contraception is worn directly on the skin for three weeks, and must be changed every seven days.

Note that people suffering from migraines, like Jennifer, are at greater risk of thromboembolic accidents, which occur following the formation of clots in the blood.

Before the age of 35, the risk is “minimal”, writes coroner Lavigne. However, it becomes less negligible “in the presence of another risk factor such as for example [sic]taking a hormonal contraceptive.

“No matter how much I said it, no matter how much I explained it, it seemed like the doctor wasn’t listening to me,” he told Newspaper Nathalie Menard.

“It’s been almost two years, and I’m really shocked because I haven’t been heard,” says the mother of three other children, including two girls.

For a reason that was not specified, the young teenager, who was finishing her third year of secondary school, did not show up for an appointment scheduled for April 6, the day before the tragedy.

Consent

According to the attending physician’s comments reported by the coroner, explanations covering the different contraceptive choices are always given to patients.

Today, the bereaved mother nevertheless considers that the age of consent for care, set at 14 years by the Civil Code, should be revised and she calls for vigilance from both parents and young girls.

It is also unknown whether Jennifer used the patch in accordance with the instructions of her attending physician, according to Coroner Lavigne. She ultimately suffered a massive pulmonary embolism.

In her death, Jennifer Ménard Morneau was able to save lives, by donating lungs, heart and liver.

We must do better in terms of awareness of the side effects of contraceptives, estimates an expert, who nevertheless considers that the case of Jennifer Ménard Morneau is a sad exception.

“We don’t want [pas] scare people to the point where they don’t use anything and have an unwanted pregnancy,” summarizes the D^D Amanda Black, President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.

“I think it’s important that there is education and that people have the information necessary to make an informed decision,” she adds.

Generally, side effects such as nausea, menstrual irregularities and pain are observed.

And according to studies, 9 to 10 women out of 10,000 using oral contraceptives, the patch or the vaginal ring can suffer from thromboembolic accidents after the formation of blood clots.

The ratio increases during pregnancy and childbirth.

More at risk

Some women have medical records suggesting that their health is more fragile.

“This is why before prescribing any contraceptive, we must ensure that we have taken an accurate history of the patient which could identify factors [aggravants]», argues the D^D Black.

For example, the type of migraine and the severity of the attacks from which a patient suffers will influence the doctor’s decision.

Thousands of declarations

Over time, the authorities have often been questioned on this subject.

According to data which had been transmitted to the Newspaperbetween the 1^er January 2003 and April 13, 2022, Health Canada received 12,553 reports of adverse reactions regarding contraceptives.

They were submitted to the Canada Vigilance Program, which provides post-market surveillance by Health Canada.

Of these statements, 251 concerned the Evra stamp, which led to the death of Jennifer Ménard Morneau, according to the coroner.

Regarding the warning of the risks of different products available to the public, “Health Canada is quite rigorous”, considers the D^D Amanda Black, recalling the importance of mentioning the appearance of any complications.