A November 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that a number of side effects linked to the Ortho Evra patch are among the most commonly missed or delayed diagnoses by physicians. A survey of more than 300 physicians found that cases of pulmonary embolism and stroke frequently resulted in diagnostic errors due to mistakes in assessing patients or other factors.

The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to a number of serious and potentially deadly side effects, including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack and stroke. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Ortho Evra users after a study revealed that the birth control patch was twice as likely to cause blood clots as birth control pills.

The consumers group Public Citizen has called on the FDA to take Ortho Evra off of the market, citing the risk of blood clots and other side effects faced by users of the birth control patch. Despite these efforts, the FDA has yet to announce plans to issue an Ortho Evra recall.