BAPRAS responds to new research around PIP implants

New research conducted by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks has found that there is no medical evidence to support a link between PIP breast implants and decreased survival or detection rates in breast cancer patients. You can read the full report here.
 
Despite this report, BAPRAS maintains that any women who wish to have their PIP implants removed should be fully supported in their right to do so on broader clinical grounds. Whilst BAPRAS has still seen no credible evidence to suggest that PIP implants pose a long-term risk to human health, it is still the case that they have the potential to rupture more than other implants, and we recognise that the possibility of complications arising from this may cause patients excessive anxiety.
 
This episode highlights how important it is to ensure that we aren’t exposed to another medical crisis on the scale of the PIP implant disaster. Last week it was announced that European lawmakers have come a step closer to ruling on the establishment of a compulsory medical device register, after passing stricter legislation for the regulatory approval and marketing of medical devices in the European Union. Both BAPRAS and the Department of Health are signatories on a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Collaboration of Breast Registry Activities (ICOBRA) which promotes best practice worldwide. BAPRAS continues to work to drive the implementation of a compulsory medical device implant registry in the UK, which we believe is crucial to improving the safety and quality of patient care.
 
Graeme Perks, President, BAPRAS