25-year-old woman suffers stroke due to missed contraceptive pill risk by GP

A woman was struck by a stroke linked to her use of the contraceptive pill after medical professionals missed important warning symptoms.

Danielle Jones was 25 years old when she went to see her GP in October 2020 with complaints of intense headaches, nausea and light sensitivity.

She also reported visual disruptions known as aura, a red flag for stroke risks.

Six months later, Danielle, from Rugeley, Staffordshire, experienced pins and needles and numbness down her left side. The situation escalated when she collapsed on April 4, 2021, and was rushed to hospital, where scans confirmed she had suffered a stroke.

Now 29, Danielle has told her ordeal in support of World Stroke Day. Before the stroke, she had an active lifestyle, working as a Business Development Executive, regularly hitting the gym and socialising.

Post-stroke, Danielle contends with fatigue, memory loss, and physical challenges. Engaged, she depends significantly on the assistance of her fiancé, Stuart, 29, and her parents, Mark and Kerry, who are 60 and 56 years old, reports the Mirror.

Danielle shared: "I'd never heard of anyone having a stroke at my age, so it came as a huge shock when I was told what had happened and it took a long time for me to comprehend what it could mean for my future.

"I had always enjoyed working out and seeing friends, but after the stroke I found it a lot tougher. Some days, I even struggle to just get out of the house and my mental health has really dipped as a result."

Danielle instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care after the stroke. The GP practice, through NHS Resolution, admitted there had been "a failure to cease" Danielle's combined contraceptive pill.

It also admitted that had the pill been stopped, Danielle's stroke "would have been avoided" adding it was "very sorry for the shortcomings in care provided."

Danielle said: "I'm so thankful for the support I've had, but to this day I still wonder how different things would have been if my pill had have been stopped when it should have been. Sadly, I can't change anything, but I wanted to share my story and the signs to look out for. Not for one minute did I ever think my contraceptive pill could lead to a stroke, so I'm sure there are others out there also unaware."

Danielle is now raising awareness of the signs of stroke, which can include a drooping face, arm weakness, slurred speech, confusion and migraines.

She said: "While I know I'll never fully be the same as I was before the stroke, all I want now is to get back to living my life as best I can."

Under the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, a migraine with aura in any individual taking the contraceptive pill is classified as a category four event – indicating the highest level of risk.

This categorisation means it "represents an unacceptable health risk and should not be prescribed."

The medical practice involved has issued an apology for the oversight, affirming their dedication to "committed to learning, improving the quality of care and reducing the risk of this type of incident happening again."

Danielle's solicitor, Tom Fletcher, commented: "The past three-and-a-half years have been incredibly difficult for Danielle as she tries to come to terms with having had a stroke at such a young age and how this has impacted her life."

He added, "While nothing will ever change what she's been through, we welcome the GP practice's admission and confirmation that it intends to learn lessons from what happened."

Fletcher also stated, "We're now working with the practice to reach a settlement which will ensure Danielle receives the specialist care and support she needs to maximise her recovery."

He further highlighted the broader implications of the case, saying, "In the meantime, her story outlines the devastating consequences of stroke and how it's vital that patient safety is improved to help prevent others from suffering like Danielle. Danielle's case, in particular, highlights the importance of patients being under a doctor's care when it comes to the contraceptive pill."

"It's now readily available on the high street, with people able to pick it up from their local chemist, and there's a potential for this to cause issues for those taking it if they aren't appropriately monitored."