Fw: 'Silicone Survivors' Take Fight Over Implants to Capital ~ 7/25/98 ~ NYTimes

[Guest guest]

We must go back and review what happened many years ago. We are all making

history and we are Survivors.

Love always....Lea

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Kolata's PR Rubbish in todays NYT

> Date: 1998/07/16

>

>

> British Panel Disputes Risks of Implants Using Silicone

>

> By GINA KOLATA

>

>

> An independent group of scientists charged by the British minister of

> health with reviewing the safety of silicone breast implants reported

> Tuesday that there was no credible evidence that they caused disease.

>

> Unlike the United States, which imposed a moratorium on the sale of

> silicone breast implants in 1992, Britain has never removed implants

from

> the market. But in light of continued concerns raised by women with

> implants, the health minister called for this review.

>

> The seven member panel, led by Dr. Sturrock, a rheumatology

> professor at the University of Glasgow, heard testimony from scientists,

> patient groups and lawyers, examined published and unpublished

scientific

> papers and read letters from women with implants as well as articles in

the

> media and posted on the Internet.

>

> Its conclusions were unequivocal: " Silicone gel breast implants are

not

> associated with any greater health risk than other surgical implants. "

>

> The British panel noted that there had been research reports

suggesting

> links between implants and disease. But it went on, " The public and the

> media would not be aware of the lack of scientific rigor, " in this

> research. As a result, the panel said, members of the public " could be

> persuaded and alarmed by results of what was, in fact, poor science and

> selective reporting. "

>

> But Dr. Garry, a professor of microbiology and immunology at

> Tulane University School of Medicine, who has frequently testified on

> behalf of women who believe they have been injured by the implants, said

> his studies and those of others clearly showed that implants leaked and

> caused toxic immunological reactions.

>

> He gave a presentation to the panel in December, he said, but " it was

> clear to me that they had already made their minds up and they weren't

> interested in what I had to say. "

>

> In its report Tuesday, the group said there was is no credible

evidence

> that silicone elicits abnormal immune system reactions.

>

> The group called for more research on the frequency with which

implants

> rupture and also asked for more data on the incidence of low-grade

> infections associated with implants. The panel said such infections, if

> they occur, might account for some of the symptoms reported by women

with

> implants.

>

>

>

>

> Wednesday, July 15, 1998

> The New York Times

>

>

>

>