Safety alert over breast implants

A recall of the breast implants was initiated in Ireland in April last following a manufacturing site inspection in France which identified unauthorised silicone gel being used in the product.

Liam Moloney, a Naas-based medical negligence solicitor, said that as it follows so closely after the faulty hip implants recall, the State should now establish a Medical Devices Authority separate from the Irish Medicines Board, which currently regulates medical devices.

He said the French manufacturer of the implants, Poly Implant Prothese, was closed down by the French authorities, which accused it of illegally using a non-approved silicone gel for almost 10 years.

"The implants have an abnormally high rupture rate which means affected patients require surgery to remove them," Mr Moloney said.

hnews@herald.ie