PIP Breast Implants – A Health Crisis

Article by
Kevin Timms

The Situation In France

There is now a health crisis reported in France in respect of the defective PIP breast implants.

Last week Professor Jean – Yves Grall, Director General of Health in France stated that 8 cases of cancer have been noted in patients who had defective PIP breast implants. The French Health authorities are now saying that all 30,000 women in France should have their PIP breast implants removed.

A French paper confirmed the seriousness of the issue “Both the Director General of Health and the President of the National Cancer Institute [and others stated] … before the end of the week, the authorities will apply to all women with PIP breast implants to have them removed” as these implants can rupture, cause inflammation and there are now concerns over whether they could cause cancer.

One source close to the decision has stated that a decision to ask 30,000 women to have their PIP breast implants removed is “unique in the history of surgery”.

A leading surgeon with regards to PIP breast implants at the Henri Mondor Hospital in Creteil, Laurent Lantieri, stated “We are facing a health crisis … There is no emergency, but we have no choice. We must remove these implants. To me, this is not the application of a precautionary principle, but a principle of prevention”.

It is not exactly clear how the removal operations will be funded but it is anticipated that funding will be available for the removal of PIP breast implants. However, funding will only be available for those women who have received reconstruction surgery following breast cancer. It will not be available for those women who obtained PIP breast implants for cosmetic reasons.


What if the same approach is taken in the UK?

If the UK authorities follow the French authorities and provide funding for everyone who has PIP breast implants to have their implants removed there will (unless individuals have had reconstruction surgery) be no funding for replacement implants.

Whilst it is not going to be easy to decide where the funding will come from many women will be left with out replacement implants.

People have breast augmentation surgery for a variety of reasons and regardless of what that reason may be, women should not be left without replacement implants.

How Can Garden House Solicitors Help?

Garden House Solicitors are currently running a group action which has recently started in the High Court in London. If you have PIP breast implants you may be entitled to claim compensation for the costs of replacement implants and compensation for the injuries you have received. If you are interested in making a PIP Breast Implant Compensation Claim please email info@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk or call us on 01992 422 128.

Garden House Solicitors have set up a National PIP Breast Implant register for those who have PIP breast implants. We have done this to try and understand how PIP breast implants have affected women within the UK and to try and establish what trends appear. If you have PIP breast implants please register your details with us. A member of our PIP team will contact you within 14 days to obtain the relevant details for the register.

Make a PIP Breast Implant Claim.

Join the National PIP Breast Implant Register.
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http://www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk/ Tel: 01992 422 128