Fw: BREAST IMPLANT BREAKTHROUGH ~ A 10-year campaign has led to new safety measures for silicone breast implants

[Guest guest]

From: " Ilena Rose " <ilena@...>

Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 6:51 PM

Subject: BREAST IMPLANT BREAKTHROUGH ~ A 10-year campaign has led to new

safety measures for silicone breast implants

> http://www.sky.com/news/health/story9.htm

>

> BREAST IMPLANT BREAKTHROUGH

>

> A 10-year campaign has led to new safety measures for silicone breast

> implants.

>

> The European Union is poised to introduce health and safety regulations in

> response to concern that thousands of women's lives are at risk.

>

> Silicone breast implants are already banned in America, Japan, Canada and

> France. A recent US study found that 69 per cent of them rupture within 10

> years.

>

> The new EU plan will see:

>

> * Independent pre and post-surgery counselling, with a " second opinion "

> by a specialist other than the patients' own surgeon.

>

> * A register of qualified plastic surgeons.

>

> * National registers of every operation carried out in all of the 15 EU

> member states, with surveillance and monitoring of those undergoing

> surgery.

>

> * Major studies to assess the precise health risks.

>

> Spurred

>

> Margo Cameron, from Glasgow, Scotland, has fought for more than a decade

> for an investigation into the use of silicone implants.

>

> She was spurred by the experience of having silicone injections in her

> lips spread throughout her body.

>

> When her claims of health risks were rebuffed, she turned to ish

> Labour Euro MP Bill for help.

>

> A large petition was handed to the European Commission in 1998 but no

> action was taken. Undeterred euro MPs arranged new research which

> ultimately swayed the Commission.

>

> It will be up to EU governments to decide whether to approve the measures,

> but Mr said: " This is a watershed in our campaign, Europe has

> recognised that there is a problem with silicone implants and is going to

> do something about it. "

>

>