Dangerous breast implants

The French health products agency, Afssaps, has just ordered the withdrawal of breast implants from the market. It alerted the Marseille public prosecutor's office (which has opened an investigation against persons unknown) to compliance issues with certain silicone gel breast implants manufactured by Poly Implants Prothèse (PIP), located in La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var department. This company has just been placed into liquidation following legal proceedings.

The case seems very complicated.

PIP products have a high rate of implant shell rupture.«"approximately double in terms of frequency"» compared to other manufacturers. The Afssaps visited PIP's premises and found that the gel used was “different from that declared when it was placed on the market”. The manufacturer having sold its prostheses in various countries, the case is of a "great complexity" The Marseille prosecutor, Jacques Gallest, announced that an investigation had been opened for: «"Deception regarding the essential qualities of the product, false advertising, forgery and use of forged documents, and endangering the lives of others"». It is up to him toe"determine the reality of the accusations brought against the head of this company."

Those responsible face up to four years in prison. No patient has filed a complaint to date, the prosecutor stated.

Source: The point, March 31, 2010