French Insurance to File Complaint on PIP Breast Implants

Article by
Kevin Timms

The French national health insurance agency has stated it will file a criminal complaint in respect of the PIP breast implant scandal, following the recommendation by the French health authorities that all 30,000 French women with PIP breast implants have them removed.

The French insurance agency will make its complaint on the grounds of deception and fraud. A director of the insurance agency said “It now appears pretty clear that these breast implants did not meet the specifications imposed for these products … That will surely have damaging consequences for the patients … and there will be a significant cost for social security also so in this context it is normal and natural for us to file a complaint”.

French authorities have stated, on the basis of extensive testing on the PIP breast implants, that the implants are more prone to early rupture than other types of breast implants. The French investigations showed that the manufacturer, PIP, used industrial silicone rather than medical grade silicone in order to save money and that the medical risks associated with the industrial silicone are unclear.

The French Health authorities have stated that the costs of removing PIP breast implants from the 30,000 French women with these implants could costs approximately 60 Million Euro.

The fears about the safety of PIP breast implants have sparked outrage in France with protests taking place last week over the implants. Now the health authorities in France and Venezuela have recommended that all women in the respective countries should have their implants removed, the cost of which will be funded by the governments.

France’s Health Minister, Xavier Bertrand, has insisted that the removal is a ‘preventative’ (not precautious) measure and is not urgent. He further said that those responsible for the implants must “answer for their acts … They were looking to make money … on the back of the health of women”.

A director and founder of PIP, Jean-Claude Mas, is now the subject of an international manhunt and is on Interpol’s most wanted list. However, Interpol has stated that the warrant and alert on the director’s name is not as serious as it may first appear and is like thousands of others where member states issue notices for an individual’s arrest.

The UK authorities on the other hand have not recommended the early removal of PIP breast implants to prevent injuries associated with premature rupture as the MHRA is only aware of 1% of PIP breast implants rupturing prematurely. For this reason Garden House Solicitors have set up a National PIP Breast Implant Register in order to clarify the true position in the UK of how PIP breast implants are affecting women.

Garden House Solicitors have issued High Court proceedings on behalf of women who have PIP Breast implant. If you are interested in making a PIP breast implant compensation claim please contact Kevin Timms on 01992 422 128 or email Kevin at kevin@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk.



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http://www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk/ Tel: 01992 422 128