It is suspected as many as 40,000 women in the UK may have breast implants produced by French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP). These implants are at the centre of an international health scare after French authorities believe they may be linked to an increased chance of developing cancer.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) recalled all PIP breast implants in 2010 and banned their use after it was discovered the PIP implants had an increased risk of rupture and contained an unapproved silicone gel.
The gel used by PIP in their implants does not reach the quality standards required for a silicone gel to be used in a breast implant.
Despite banning their use the MHRA argue the PIP implants posed little or no risk to the health of those women who had already had them and stated it was not necessary for them to be removed. Following a report published on Friday 6th January the MHRA is standing by this decision.
Whilst the Government is not recommending all women with PIP implants have them removed, they are encouraging private clinics to offer free removal of PIP breast implants to their patients if requested. The Government has also announced that women with PIP implants will be able to have them romoved for free on the NHS if they cannot get this through their clinic, however, the NHS will not offer replacement implants.
Concern over the PIP implants has recently been renewed by French authorities amid fears the implants have a higher than usual rupture rate and the unapproved silicone may be linked to a rare cancer. French authorities have discovered 8 cases of women with PIP implants developing a rare form of cancer and French Health Authorities are now recommending all women with these implants have them removed.
Despite well documented concerns, the UK’s regulatory body – the MHRA - believes the implants do not have a high rupture rate and argue there is “insufficient evidence to indicate any association with cancer” and . The MHRA does not believe the PIP implants pose any significant risk to women who have them and is not currently advising women in the UK to have them removed.
If you have PIP breast implants you may be able to make a claim for the cost of replacing the implants, other losses and potentially a compensation claim for injuries as well.
Holmes & Hills are experts in dealing with product liability litigation cases and represent clients across the country on a wide range of product liability claims.
If you are concerned that you, a friend, or a relative may have PIP silicone breast implants, Holmes & Hills Solicitors can advise on:
For further information or advice on potentially making a claim for cosmetic surgery compensation, call Christopher Livingston on 01376 529298.
Holmes & Hills' team of personal injury solicitors are recognised by The Legal 500 - an independent directory of the UK's leading law firms - as a being one of the leading teams of personal injury solicitors in the South East.
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