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‘Isle of Man’ Women wait and see over breast implant help
– Reported, January 24, 2012
CONCERNED women in the Isle of Man are waiting to see what help if any is available to those who received breast implants manufactured by Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP).
Last week the islands Department of Health released a statement saying it was not aware of any women in the Isle of Man who had received the implants, either privately or through the NHS.
But iomtoday has spoken to one Douglas woman who has and it is understood there are others.
Controversy has surrounded the French company following revelations that from 2001 they were using industrial-grade silicone instead of the more expensive medical-grade silicone.
The news was followed with concerns that the affected implants may be more prone to rupturing, and the health implications of industrial-grade silicone leaking into the body.
Lori Corlett received PIP implants in February 2007 from the Harley Medical Group in the UK, and she is aware of at least two other Douglas woman from the Isle of Man in the same situation.
Lori said she was assured that they were proper implants, though it is now known that that was not the case.
She said: Ideally I would like to take them out and replace them. Yes I chose to have implants, but I did not choose to have industrial-grade silicone put into my body.
The issue of who is responsible for any health implications is now being argued. The Harley Medical Group aid it would not pick up the cost of replacing PIP implants for its patients, as it believes it was mis-sold them.
Without help from the NHS or the Harley Medical Group, Lori would face a £2,600 bill to have the implants removed. She is concerned that the UK Government regulatory body overlooked the fact that PIP was not using medical standard silicone and the implants were okayed for use in the UK.
Estimated figures of women in the UK who may have received PIP implants have been as high as 30,000 to 40,000 leaving a chance that more Isle of Man patients who underwent private surgery in the UK could be affected.
The Department of Health, however maintain that it remains unlikely for many others on the island to have received PIP implants, although it says the situation will be closely monitored.
Calls for all affected women to have their implants removed at no cost to themselves have been rebuked by UK health officials, who say that removal can cause risks in itself and would only be considered if, after medical examination, a doctor concludes there are genuine grounds for doing so.
Lori is part of a Facebook group called PIP Implant Protest Group and asked anyone who wanted to talk to her about the issue join the group or contact her through Isle of Man Newspapers.
Credits: Lee Brooks
More Information at:
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/women_wait_and_see_over_breast_implant_help_1_4150816
