Correction: the thread title should read : INDUSTRIAL Grade Silicone for Breast Implants.
This is a news report about a French company that went bankrupt but not before using industrial grade silicone to manufacture breast implants. The implants were used in French and English women. It is unknown if industrial grade silicone in breast implants poses any health risks to patients, but it is easy to understand the hysteria that is developing.
The blame game is in full effect with patients expecting plastic surgeons who placed the implants to remove them and replace them with new medical grade implants for free. The plastic surgery clinics understandably feel that the manufacturer is responsible since they were lied to about the implant specificiations.
What I found interesting though was the quote by British Health Secretary Andrew Lansley:
"We believe that private healthcare providers have a moral duty to offer the same service to their patients that we will offer to NHS patients -- free information, consultations, scans and removal if necessary," Lansley said.
Considering that the NHS does not cover cosmetic surgery, and it is estimated that 95% of the industrial grade implants were placed by private practice plastic surgeons, this seems to be an obvious strategy to transfer responsibility (and cost) of the problem on to private practice plastic surgeons.
If this happened to American patients I suspect that there would be a whole new wave of breast implant insanity, complete with class action lawsuits, teary-eyed testimonials, and government agency investigations.
Any thoughts?
This is a news report about a French company that went bankrupt but not before using industrial grade silicone to manufacture breast implants. The implants were used in French and English women. It is unknown if industrial grade silicone in breast implants poses any health risks to patients, but it is easy to understand the hysteria that is developing.
The blame game is in full effect with patients expecting plastic surgeons who placed the implants to remove them and replace them with new medical grade implants for free. The plastic surgery clinics understandably feel that the manufacturer is responsible since they were lied to about the implant specificiations.
What I found interesting though was the quote by British Health Secretary Andrew Lansley:
"We believe that private healthcare providers have a moral duty to offer the same service to their patients that we will offer to NHS patients -- free information, consultations, scans and removal if necessary," Lansley said.
Considering that the NHS does not cover cosmetic surgery, and it is estimated that 95% of the industrial grade implants were placed by private practice plastic surgeons, this seems to be an obvious strategy to transfer responsibility (and cost) of the problem on to private practice plastic surgeons.
If this happened to American patients I suspect that there would be a whole new wave of breast implant insanity, complete with class action lawsuits, teary-eyed testimonials, and government agency investigations.
Any thoughts?
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