PIP Breast Implants

Hugh James are representing over 1,000 women with PIP implants of which over 650 have contacted Hugh James in the last few weeks.

• Read the Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) Breast Implants: Interim report of the expert group (pdf)
• Department of Health statement on breast implants and response to expert group report
  

PIP Breast Implant Claims

At the end of this month (January 2012), Mark Harvey will be making an application to the Court for a Group Litigation Order. The Order will allow claimants affected by the PIP scandal to have their case heard by a Judge later in the year.

Please read about

• Hugh James PIP Implant Claims
• PIP Implant News
• Hugh James Harmful Product Experience
• Harmful Product Group Action Case Studies

Hugh James PIP Breast Implant Claims

On the 31st March 2010 the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released a Medical Device Alert in relation to all silicone gel filled breast implants manufactured by PIP, recalling all devices to the UK supplier.

The MHRA acted upon receiving information from the French medical device regulatory authority (AFSSAPS) that they have taken similar steps in France following a recent inspection of the PIP manufacturing plant which revealed that most breast implants manufactured by the company since 2001 have been filled with an unapproved silicone gel.

The AFSSAPS inspection was prompted by an increase in reported incidents (mainly ruptures) involving the implants over the past three years. Reports of higher rates of rupture and other complications connected to these implants raised concerns with regulatory authorities and in March 2010 an inspection of the PIP manufacturing plant revealed use of an unapproved gel. Further studies have also revealed that PIP dispensed with using a protective barrier and that the unapproved gel was intended for use in mattresses.

The French medical device regulatory authority (AFSSAPS) released the results of their testing on 29th September 2010 and have confirmed that there may be a higher rate of rupture in PIP breast implants. AFSSAPS has confirmed that the gel within the PIP implants is not the same as it is described in their manufacturer’s design guide, that the gel does not reach the level of quality required before a silicone gel can be used in breast implants and that the gel can lead to inflammatory reactions in some women, because of the irritant character of this gel. The tests also show that PIP implants have a higher propensity to rupture. AFSSAPS have however agreed with the results of the MHRA’s recent testing that the gel itself is not toxic.

AFSSAPS conclude that their testing shows that the performance and safety of PIP breast implants are not in accordance with current expected standards.

AFSSAPS PIP Breast Implant Recommendations

AFSSAPS recommends that:

• All women with PIP implants should be referred for an ultrasound scan
• All women with ruptures or suspected rupture should have both their PIP implants removed

All PIP silicone gel implants were recalled and women who have them advised to seek an ultrasound within the next six months to check for any rupture or weakening of their implants.

Recent PIP Breast Implant Developments

During December 2011, reports were published by the French publication Libération that the French medical authorities will ask all women in France who received breast implants supplied by the Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) company to have them removed.

The recent development in the approach by the French Government has been made in reaction to reports during December 2011 of an association between the death of a French woman with PIP implants.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (http://www.baaps.org.uk/) has, however, reiterated previous recommendations by urging UK patients not to worry and confirming that a direct link with the implants has not been established.

Since the recall of the faulty implants, PIP has gone into liquidation, leaving victims with no clear route for legal recovery.  Renowned campaigning lawyer Mark Harvey, Partner and head of the top ranked Personal Injury Team at Hugh James solicitors, is acting for over 1,000 women with PIP implants.

Hugh James is advising all women with PIP implants to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

For information on joining the group represented by Hugh James please contact Mark Harvey on  02920 224 871 or complete our enquiry form.
 

PIP Implants News

Click on the links below to read further coverage on this issue:

Hugh James January 2012 news:

• PIP breast implant scandal continues to be debated
  19 | 01 | 12
  
• Andrew Lansley calls for clinics to take action for PIP failure
  17 | 01 | 12
• UK Government confirm that NHS will remove but not replace private PIP Breast Implants
  11 | 01 | 12
  
• The NHS in Wales to replace PIP implants for private patients
  11 | 01 | 12 
• Government reiterates that women with PIP breast implants do not need to have their implants removed
  06 | 01 | 12
  
• Hugh James PIP breast implant clients await the Government's announcement
  06 | 01 | 12
• French publication warns that PIP also manufactured male implants
  06 | 01 | 12
  
• British women may be at risk from PIP implants sold under a different name
  06 | 01 | 12
  
• Hugh James Partner Mark Harvey criticises the lack of clarity and support provided to women with PIP breast implants
  04 | 01 | 12
  

Hugh James December 2011 news:

• Reaction to latest developments on PIP implants
  23 | 12 | 11
  
• Hugh James Partner Mark Harvey appears on UK and French news to comment on the PIP Breast Implant reports
  22 | 12 | 11
  
• The MHRA react to the French Authorities' advice that all PIP implants should be removed
  22 | 12 | 11
  
• French Medical Authorities to ask 30,000 women to remove their PIP implants
  20 | 12 | 11
  
• New recommendations published for PIP breast implant patients
  15 | 12 | 11

BBC News

• PIP breast implant boss Jean-Claude Mas faces charges
  BBC News 27 | 01 | 12
• Welsh NHS to remove breast implants 'on need'
  06 | 01 | 12
• PIP breast implants: review to give findings
  06 | 01 | 12
• Cardiff solicitor on faulty implant case
  03 | 01 | 12
• Fuel additive in banned PIP breast implants 
  02 | 01 | 12
• Implants solicitor demands clarity over PIP implants 
  21 | 12 | 11 
• Breast implants 'have no cancer link' says UK watchdog
  21 | 12 | 11

Daily Mail

• NHS to offer 3,000 British women implant replacement following scare but private patients are told not to worry
  07 | 01 | 12
• 'They wanted £50 to give me a copy of my record': Clinics cash in on fears of women in breast implant crisis
  03 | 01 | 12
  
• Former French butcher earned millions from selling faulty breast implants made from mattress filling
  31 | 12 | 11
  
• At least 250 women to sue British clinics over silicone breast implants involved in cancer scare
  22 | 12 | 11
  

The Independent

• British women begin legal action over defective breast implants
  22 | 12 | 11

The Guardian

• Breast implant scandal: Lansley and private clinics clash over free treatment
  The Guardian 07 | 01 | 12
• Medical devices and Chinese toys share same level of safety checks
  06 | 01 | 12
• Breast implants scandal: Andrew Lansley orders new review of dangers
  31 | 12 | 11
  
• Lawyer blames UK regulator for allowing faulty French breast implants
  22 | 12 | 11

The Sun

• France advises women to get risky breast implants removed
  23 | 12 | 11

Mirror

• 250 women plan legal action over breast implants cancer fears
  22 | 12 | 11
  

Wales Online

• Wales offers to replace banned PIP breast implants on NHS
  10 | 01 | 12
• Solicitor welcomes French advice on PIP breast implants but states ‘no need’ for British women to have them removed
  24 | 12 | 11
  
• Women told not to panic over breast implants
  22 | 12 | 11
  
  

View our news archive

Visit our PIP breast implant blog

Hugh James harmful products experience

The Hugh James harmful products team has many years' experience of successfully winning harmful product claims.

Our expert advice has helped us to be  ranked first as a representative of claimants in such cases by Chambers and Partners, the Independent Guide to Law Firms.

Our lawyers have successfully recovered compensation for victims of other pharmaceutical products and medical devices including Opren, CJD Growth Hormone, hip and spinal prostheses and  cataract lenses.

Read our harmful product group actions case studies