Implant payouts for Kiwis

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Implant payouts for Kiwis

22 August 2005

By KAMALA HAYMAN

A 14-year battle to win compensation for failed

silicon breast implants is finally over for dozens of

New Zealand women.

Internationally, about 170,000 women with failed

implants have sought compensation from United States

manufacturer Dow Corning.

In 1999, a $NZ6.4 billion settlement deal was approved

by a US judge to settle worldwide claims.

Finally, 96 of more than 1000 New Zealand women

involved in a class action against Dow Corning have

received letters promising payouts of up to $50,000.

Amongst them is one Christchurch woman, offered

$US16,200 ($NZ23,343).

" I am happy with the settlement, and happy it's all

over, " the woman, who did not want to be named, said.

Her implants were put in 23 years ago and lasted about

17 years before they ruptured, filling her chest with

silicone. While she did not suffer ill-health, the

operation to have the implants and leaking silicone

removed was lengthy and unpleasant.

She opted to have them replaced with saline implants.

" I could have been left with quite substantial

scarring and no breasts or saline implants. "

Women's Implant Information Network co-ordinator

Brennan-Hodgson said the letters had begun arriving in

recent weeks, with some women offered less than $2000

in compensation.

" This has been an enormously long process and the

women I've spoken to haven't had very large payouts.

It is quite an anti-climax. "

One woman who lived with pain daily described it as " a

pittance " .

Brennan-Hodgson knew of women who had suffered severe

pain, skin rashes, arthritis and poor circulation, and

who had not yet received an offer of compensation.

In 2001, Dow Corning reached a settlement with 3000

Australian implant patients totalling $A38 million

($NZ44.49m). The largest payment was $A120,000.

Amongst them was Timaru woman Kathy , one of

five New Zealanders to receive implants in Australia.

She was dismayed to get just $A565 for the

" excruciating pain " she suffered because of the

silicone implants she received following a mastectomy.