“Ortho-McNeil claims the death rate from its patch is ‘consistent with the health risks’ of taking the Pill. According to them, the Pill kills 0.3 to 1.9 women out of every 100,000 15 to 29 year old users. Smoking significantly increases the risk of death.” – September 19, 2004 (going back one day further than Emily)

“FDA records, obtained by The Post under the Freedom of Information law, show that 17 patch users, ages 17 to 30, suffered fatal heart attacks, blood clots…”

“18 Year-Old New York Student Dies Suddenly from Birth Control Complications” – April 6, 2004.

“Based on new information from the medical examiner's office, probers now believe that Zakiya Kennedy formed blood clots as the result of using the "patch" contraceptive - and that one of the fatal clots eventually moved into her lung and killed her, law- enforcement sources said.”

This is the hormonal patch, Ortho Evra, "what TIME magazine calls one of the 'Coolest Inventions of 2002.'"

And this is a magazine from which we should take and believe our news?

???

Here's a big long list of contraindications (reasons why a woman shouldn't use it).

Ortho Evra contains progestin, a slightly different one than in Depo-Provera, the mini-pill and NorPlant, but they all work the same. Ortho Evra also contains estrogen, so it's most like the Birth Control Pill and the Morning After Pill.

As Ron White, one of my favorite comics, would intone drily, "Now THERE's some good news!!"