Parliament committee calls for research into breast implants
The European Parliament's Petitions Committee has called for further scientific and clinical research to be carried out looking into the rupture rate of breast implants. The committee adopted a report by French MEP Janelly Fourtou following the submission of two petitions to the Parliament by members of the public worried about silicone breast implants. As the risks of this type of operation are not fully known, the committee stresses the need for research programmes and an investigation into rupture rates, as current statistics range from 5 to 51 per cent depending on the study. The report calls for national breast implant registers to be set up in each Member State. These would constitute databases for long term research, but would respect privacy and confidentiality, says the committee. The report also stresses the need for legislation to protect patients' health and improve the marketing and quality control of such implants. The committee is also calling for a ban on cosmetic breast implants on patients under 18 years of age.