England, France and Germany were the first countries to recommend removal of PIP breast implants from women. Reports early in December entered into the media high-lighting the dangers of PIP implants. Reports indicated that PIP implants were found to have leaked industrial grade silicone inside patients. Implants should be made from approved material which is safe to use in the human body. This is what each and every women that had breast augmentation surgery paid for.

An expert group drawn from across Europe are currently discussing all evidence, material and data available to them in order to form recommendations for all European countries that have used PIP implants. Their results are expected at the end of January 2012.

Irish Private Clinics will only remove these implants IF THEY HAVE ALREADY RUPTURED. For the women that have not yet found a rupture or are unable to avail of testing there is no resolution to this issue. In some cases women do not have full confirmation yet that they have PIP implants. The majority of women affected by this issue are faced with the exhausting task of asking for confirmations of their PIP implants via medical records, arranging testing and the overall frustration of trying to access information from professionals and private clinics on this issue.

This is not a petition discussing cosmetic surgery and peoples opinions on it. This is a simple issue of a product that was used that was unapproved and could possibly now be toxic. Therefore it should be removed and replaced.

There is no government helpline, support group or guideline available to women in Ireland. Unlike other countries the Irish government and Minister of Health have made no comment of the issue of PIP implants and the issues that are affecting the women involved on a daily basis. And have failed in their duty of care to female citizens



We the undersigned ask the Minister For Health, Dr. James Reilly and the Irish Government to full investigate the use of Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) in the private clinics in Ireland. We ask that the surgeons and clinics that implanted Irish women with these implants provide all scans and tests necessary, Remove all PIP implants from Irish women and offer replacement FDA approved implants to all women implanted with PIP implants.

We the signed below voice that this should not be at any cost to the victims of PIP implants. We ask the Minister for health and Irish Government to support victims of PIP implants and hold responsible each clinic for its duty of care to each and every Irish patient with PIP implants.