Let your voice be heard on breast implants MacBank pushing implant loans (2 articles)

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Beth for these two articles. I am so happy to know that other groups are spreading the information on platinum and implants. Here is Keeling's work on this that the breast implant industry is trying so hard to discredit.

www.BreastimplantAwareness.org/cando.htm

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The second article is about Australian banks ... Here was one comment (feel free to add yours!)

At sexpo in sydney last week models with fake boobs were paid to walk around promoting getting new ones!!! There job was to talk to girls and boys about the benefits and the experience.

Posted by: snoophound of sydney 12:31pm today

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From: Beth <mustlovedogz@...>Subject: Let your voice be heard on breast implants

http://www.star-gazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060809/LIFE06/608090307/1138

Let your voice be heard on breast implants

By a McCulloch-Dews

rmdews@...Star-Gazette

August 9, 2006

Silicone breast implants have long been the subject of debate regarding their impact on a woman's health.That debate is hot as ever as the Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether to approve silicone gel breast implants and is accepting comments from the public on the issue, says Pearson, Executive Director of the National Women's Health Network, an independent FDA watchdog group started in 1975 and based in the District of Columbia

..On its Web site,

http://www.nwhn.org, the group has posted information on a new peer-reviewed study that shows that platinum in breast implants could be toxic for women and their babies. In light of these findings, Pearson says she is encouraging all women -- whether or not they have had breast implants of any type -- to submit their comments. The group's site has a link to the FDA's comment board for this specific topic.

Since its inception, Pearson says the group has worked to alert the public of issues that could affect their quality of life. " In the 1970s and '80s, we would use newsletters ... In the age of the Internet, it's not so hard, and people like us can get the word out. "

For more information, visit

http://www.nwhn.org.

" With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die. " ~Abraham Lincoln

beth taylor

www.breastimplantsupport.org

www.toxicbreastimplants.org

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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20036789-5007132,00.html

MacBank pushing implant loans

PLASTIC surgeons are being urged by Macquarie Bank to spruik its loans to women patients considering breast implants.

Lobby groups yesterday accused the financial giant of " exploiting a vulnerable market " and warned doctors to steer clear. " I've got to say I find it pretty tasteless, " said one consumer credit activist, who asked not to be named.

The move is just the latest sign of the millionaire factory's never-ending quest to make a buck out of everyday life.

Already it owns everything from Sydney airport to many of the world's biggest toll roads.

Now the bank is joining the booming plastic surgery business.

Australian Patient Finance, set up by Macquarie a year ago, approaches plastic surgeons telling them to advertise its loans to patients who can't afford an operation.

According to its website, APF offers loans up to $30,000 for " breast augmentation or reduction, liposuction, adominoplasty (tummy tuck), rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and surgical facelifts " .

The loans also apply for dental and laser vision surgery. But breast enlargements are by far Australia's most popular cosmetic surgery, with an estimated 20,000 procedures – worth $300 million – last year. That figure is tipped to surpass $400 million in 2006.

Experts say the industry is growing so fast because of free publicity in shows such as Extreme Makeover.

The Australian Medical Association said the Macquarie service set a new low for big business profiteering off the weak.

" The marketing of finance for this area is exploitation of a market, and a vulnerable market. I would want to protect my patients from being exploited in that manner, " AMA ethics and medico-legal committee chairwoman nna Capolingua said.

Prominent Sydney plastic surgeon Eng-Peng Tan advertises APF on its website but a spokeswoman denied pushing the product on to patients.

" We don't encourage people to get anything on credit. What they've got to do is work out what they need and how to do it. We don't get involved in finance, " she said.

Other plastic surgeons contacted by The Daily Telegraph said they had been approached by unnamed " patient finance " companies but refused to be involved.

APF head Berkman denied he and his team of " business development managers " were being too aggressive in spruiking their product. " It's simply a matter of giving them some brochures and a bit of information that they can pass on to patients, " he said.

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www.BreastImplantAwareness.org