'Silicone' mother makes legal history

[Guest guest]

I wonder what the status of this law suit is, and how

's children are doing now? - Rogene

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Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 6:16 PM Subject:

'Silicone' mother makes legal history ~ British news

from 1997 Eastern Daily Press, January 12 1997

'Silicone' mother makes legal history Norfolk woman

wins legal aid to sue over health problems By

Batson A Norfolk mother is making legal history by

suing the makers of a breast implant which she claims

made her baby daughter ill. Campaigners are hailing

Bowler's case as a worldwide breakthrough in the

battle to get the implants banned and get compensation

for the mothers and children left sick by silicone

leakage.

Last night an expert in America told the EDP said she

had a strong medical case. But the Department of

Health said that though there was a current study into

silicone implants, there was no medical evidence that

would justify a ban. Twenty-six-year-old from

North Walsham had a single implant for medical reasons

in January 1993 and says she was not warned of any

potential risk. Now she thinks seepage of leaking

silicone has left her and her family battling against

sickness.

Son Jordan was born almost a year later in December

1994. He was not breast fed, but suffered some illness

including allergies to medicines, rashes, asthma and

eczema. But it was when daughter la was born in

April 1996 that the problems really showed up, said

Mrs Bowler. 'I breast fed her for three days, after

checking with the hospital it was safe. But I stopped

because it was excruciatingly painful and I felt the

implant move and pull.'

Sickness, which started as soon as la was born,

still dogs the 21-month-old girl today. 'Danny had

chronic diarrhoea, stomach pains, never slept in the

day, cried out in the sleep at night, and had a

frightened staring look on her face. She still has

dark rings under her eyes, blisters and thrush down

below, and diarrhoea three times a day,' added the

mum, whose health also suffered.

'I had a numb side of my body, painful muscles and

joints, blinding headaches. I could not concentrate

and ended up with ME. I used to be very fit, loved

sport and dancing - but I could not even take the

children to the shops.' It was when she contacted the

Silicone Support UK group that she was told the

family's problems were classic silicone leakage cases.

Group spokesman Margot Cameron said 's was one of

50 family cases they were helping, but was the first

in Britain to succeed in getting legal aid to

investigate suing the foreign makers of the implants

for the effects on children. They were also hoping a

Government review of implants would result in a ban

for health reasons as the 'evidence is overwhelming.'

But a Department spokesman last night said there was

not enough evidence to provoke a ban, adding: 'We are

concerned about women's health and there is a review

under way - but no evidence to change policy at the

moment.'

Mrs Bowler, of Birch Close, had her implant removed in

September 1996. She is feeling a little better, and is

determined to carry on the fight for the sake of her

children and other families. 'I am only too aware of

the distress it causes a woman if her breasts do not

look right. But silicone implants have to be banned

like they are in other countries.' 'If the Government

can ban beef on the bone because of a slight risk,

why not do the same with silicone implants,' she

added.

American expert Dr Radford Shanklin, who has been

studying silicone problems for 12 years at the

University of Tennessee in Memphis, said dangers had

been known since the 1970s, but makers continued to

deny any problems. Britain was lagging behind other

countries such as the United States, Japan, Canada,

Norway and France who had halted silicone implants.

There were still some tests needed on la, but

the Norfolk case was a strong one and 'an

extraordinary breakthrough, which I hope will wake

some people up.'

* Anyone wanting to contact Silicone Support UK,

should send a stamped addressed envelope to them at 2

Cherrybank Road, Merrylee, Glasgow, G43 2PQ.* Eastern

Daily Press, January 12 1997