New studies have intensified existing concerns regarding patient safety, informed consent, and systemic accountability in Ireland, particularly in light of recent reports (such as an Evoke.ie article on July 26, 2025) concerning the contraceptive injection Medroxyprogesterone acetate (sold as Depo Provera). These findings reinforce earlier evidence showing that women who use this injection long-term face a risk three-and-a-half times higher of developing meningioma, a type of brain tumour.
Irish women are now confronting a critical, dual-layered problem: the inherent health risk associated with the product and the alarming absence of immediate, practical data from health authorities.
The Slow Pace of Open Disclosure
Despite an urgent safety warning issued last year by the Irish Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) regarding severe risks associated with the injection (including vision changes, hearing loss, memory loss and seizures) the HSE has confirmed it will take 'weeks' to compile data on the number of women prescribed it.
This significant delay is alarming and fundamentally undermines the principles of Patient Safety and transparency. The inability of health authorities to immediately identify and contact all women potentially at risk of developing meningioma represents a critical failure in data management and proactive patient care. Access to the total number of long-term users, the highest-risk group, is essential information that should be instantly available.
Legal Avenues: Negligence and Product Liability
This situation opens up clear avenues for legal action based on two pillars:
Product Liability: Claims are emerging, mirroring class actions in the US and numerous enquiries in the UK, alleging that manufacturers failed to adequately warn users of the risks, despite prior knowledge of the link between prolonged use of Depo Provera and the increased risk of meningioma.
Medical Negligence/Informed Consent: Legal action may also arise if a healthcare professional failed to properly communicate the known risks of long-term use, thereby preventing a patient from giving full, informed consent, or if there was a delay in a patient's diagnosis after symptoms emerged.
Our Advocacy: The Right to Know
Women who have used the contraceptive product for several years should seek medical advice to confirm they have not experienced harm.
For any woman concerned about her Depo Provera use who wishes to investigate a potential claim, we are ready to provide expert legal advice and guidance. The healthcare system now has a responsibility to provide the necessary answers.