Fw: How is it we can not be heard?

[Guest guest]

I sent this letter to the FDA officials Rogene provided addresses for. I hope I hear back from them.

Dear FDA friends,

I am in shock over the recent recommendation by the FDA Advisory panel to lift the restriction on the marketing of silicone gel breast implants.

I fear the future financial health of this country, under the weight of hundreds of thousands of ailing women who may be forced into bankruptcy, lose their homes, husbands, and other forms of support and end up on welfare, disability, or other form of social care as a result of having these health-robbing devices. In the end, the American taxpayer, (you and I and every other hard working American), pays for the injustice done by allowing the sale of these dangerous devices when the risks have been told to you over and over again by women who have experienced the harm. These women are not going to just go away and disappear. Their stories are not going to end--indeed, there are going to be more. But who is going to listen? Will you? Will you have courage to take the appropriate actions to protect Americans from dangerous medical devices as you have been charged to do? Yesterdays ruling leaves the answer to this question in serious doubt.

I don't know what else to say. I can tell you my story of destroyed good health once I got implants, but I would sound just like every other story you have heard. I fear that it would not do any more good, even though that is my desire. There are thousands and thousands like me.

I am reminded of the story of the rich man who went to hell, and looking up from his place of torment, he saw Lazarus, the poor beggar who he had ignored in his lifetime resting at Abraham's side in heaven. The rich man begged Abraham to let Lazarus go to his brothers to warn them, "so they would not also come to this place of torment."

Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." But the rich man implored, "No, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent."

Abraham said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

It seems that our efforts to warn are futile. It seems that the FDA cares not that women have lived in torment, even though we have been crying for justice and warning of the fate that awaits. What has blinded the FDA?

What can be done? (Are you certain of where you stand?)

I await your reply on how we can best help protect the American public. I need to understand how the FDA intends to deal with the masses of harmed women to come. If I, (an internet support group leader for hundreds of women harmed by breast implants) can anticipate the suffering to come, certainly the "experts" at the FDA can as well. What is their plan?

Furthermore, what are the goals of the registry? Who will oversee it, who will ensure that it is legitimately supervised, and that the plastic surgeons comply with the requirements to register all women getting silicone gel implants? (Or is the FDA going to be spineless with this as well?)

I am sorry, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but the recommendations of the Advisory panel do not inspire respect in any interpretation of the word. I await your reply.

Sincerely,

Patty Faussett

Founder of Saline Support on