Fans of the Center for Investigative Reporting’s podcast “Reveal” know that the show tackles some pretty serious topics each week. From the opioid epidemic to the Standing Rock protests, Reveal covers stories that shape our society. They also do exceptional reporting on important stories that fall through the cracks of our 24-hour Trump news coverage. Their recent episode delves into the problems with Essure permanent birth control devices.
As the show often does, Reveal puts a human face to the problems with Essure by interviewing Tracy Long, a woman who turned to Essure as a permanent birth control solution. Tracy began experiencing severe complications shortly after the device was implanted, including a rare form of migraine that left her face numb. Like far too many Essure victims, Tracy also experienced fatigue, joint pain and severe discomfort that made intercourse and physical contact unbearably painful.
Reveal also delves into the history of the device, going so far as to interview a medical device engineer who used to work on Essure. Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality agreements, “Roger” had this to say about his decision to speak out:
“When you see failures like this in the field, it’s like ‘Oh, who missed what? How did that happen? Was it a lazy person, was it somebody trying to get greedy and just put stuff out?’”
“Roger” goes on to give an account of his time spent working on the Essure device prior to its FDA approval, and reveals the red flags that caught his attention early on. In particular, he addresses quality control standards that varied from plant to plant.
Reveal is an excellent podcast, and their latest episode is no exception. If you’re looking for a concise and informed account of the problems with Essure, it’s definitely worth a listen by clicking the link below.
Her Own Devices: Is a Contraceptive Implant Making us Sick?
Image Credit: RevealNews.org
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