British politicians and doctors are demanding a thorough investigation into the PIP breast implants scandal. Labour MPS joined with leading doctors to submit an urgent motion to the Women and Equalities committee calling for the inquiry to be reopened. A special session of parliament will be held this month to discuss faulty implants linked to cancer risks.
Labour MP Fleur Anderson said: “47,000 women in the UK could be at risk of cancer. The government must immediately track down all women affected by PIP implants and provide the necessary medical support.” The Putney MP pointed out that the breakage rate of implants was excessive and could cause complications such as joint disease and nerve damage.
Carl Hennigan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford, confirmed: “Implants may induce the rare cancer BIA-ALCL. The government should set up a complete case tracking system.” Figures show that France advised 30,000 women to have the implants removed in 2011, but the UK Food and Drug Agency insisted at the time there was “no cause for concern”.
The founder of PIP, which used industrial silicone instead of medical materials, was convicted of fraud after it went bankrupt in 2010. A 2012 report found that the brand ruptured at twice the rate of other products, but the UK Department of Health has yet to acknowledge the long-term health risks.
London resident Jane Spivey, 63, complained: “After the implant, rashes, headaches and other persistent symptoms, why does the government not follow the French recall?” There is currently a prosthetic registration system in place in the UK, but victims believe there are major gaps in data collection.
The health ministry responded that the FDA was continuously monitoring the safety of the implants and advised anyone with concerns to consult a doctor. An NHS spokesman said it was working to improve the data disclosure mechanism, but did not specify a timetable.
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