It’s been 2½ years since Erika Langhart died suddenly at the age of 24 from two heart attacks. Her parents, former Durangoans and Red Snapper owners Rick and Karen Langhart, have since made it a mission to inform women about the risks of third-generation hormonal contraceptives – Nuvaring in particular – which they believe caused their daughter’s death.
Multiple stories have run in The Durango Herald. Vanity Fair magazine ran a long article in January, and now CNN is picking up the story. Starting today, the news network will run a three-part series on “Anderson Cooper 360°” in a story reported by Randi Kaye.
“They talked to us, a classmate of Erika’s, (elite Army athlete) Megan Henry, who almost died because of Nuvaring,” Karen Langhart said, “and several other parents we have met who unfortunately share the commonality of having lost a daughter and who refused to settle.”
She was referring to the $100 million settlement Nuvaring manufacturer Merck agreed to in a court case in February. The Langharts were among 3,800 plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit.
“The more we research and understand about this type of contraceptive, the more we understand about the many possible adverse effects to a woman’s body,” Karen Langhart said. “It alters the whole endocrine system of the body.”
The Langharts are just getting started. They have incorporated a nonprofit in Arizona, where they now live, called Informed Choice for Amerika – the “k” is in honor of Erika – and are working on 501(c)3 status with the IRS. The business cards they created for the nonprofit include links where women can get more information.
“We give them to everyone, including the clerk at the grocery store,” Karen Langhart said. “It’s unbelievable how many stories come back to us of other women who have experienced incidents.”
The couple also will be filmed for two documentaries, “Sweetening the Pill” and “Taking Control –” the latter being filmed by the producers of the film “127 Hours.”
“Our whole goal is for women to be informed,” Karen Langhart said. “We think women are a lot smarter than doctors think they are and pharmaceutical companies think they are. We are 100 percent believers in choice, but it has to be informed choice.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
To watch
Today, CNN will begin airing a three-part series about Nuvaring, the contraceptive device accused of being the cause of death of Durango High School graduate Erika Langhart in 2011. Each episode of “Anderson Cooper 360°” will air five times, at 6, 7, 9 and 10 p.m. and midnight MST each night.
Tuesday: Former Durangoans and Red Snapper owners Rick and Karen Langhart and other friends and families who believe they have lost daughters to the blood-clotting side effect of Nuvaring.
Wednesday: The Food and Drug Administration and Nuvaring.
Thursday: The American Medical Association and doctors’ roles regarding Nuvaring.
