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PIP breast implant victims should be compensated, French court rules

The implants were filled with cheap, industrial-grade silicone not聽cleared for human use and more likely to rupture than others.

A doctor in the US holds silicone gel breast implants made by French company Poly Implant Prothese, or PIP in 2011. The implants were removed from a patient over safety concerns
Image: Poly Implant Prothese, which made the defective implants, shut down in 2010
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Thousands of women who had defective breast implants made by French company Poly Implant Prothese (so-called PIP implants), should receive compensation, a court has said.

In a ruling that could affect tens of thousands of victims from dozens of countries, from Britain to Latin America, the Paris appeal court decided TUV Rheinland was negligent in awarding safety certificates.

Around 300,000 women in some 65 countries, including around 47,000 in the UK, were affected.

A cleaned defective PIP breast implant, after being removed from a patient in Nice. File pic
Image: A cleaned defective PIP breast implant, after being removed from a patient
The locked entrance of the French company Poly Implant Prothese building near Toulon. File pic
Image: PIP, which was based near Toulon, closed down in 2010

Thursday's ruling was announced in a statement by the French advocacy association PIPA, which represents victims.

The implants, made by the French firm, which shut down in the wake of the scandal in 2010, were certified as safe by the German company.

Around 2,700 women who said they suffered long-term physical and mental health problems after receiving the implants filled with cheap, industrial-grade silicone not cleared for human use, sued for compensation.

They were found to be more likely to rupture than other implants, causing inflammation in surrounding tissue and making removing them more complicated, studies found.

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Christine, a victim, who did not want to give her surname, said: "It is a relief today, as we can acknowledge our status as victims. Almost all of us have lasting effects. I still have silicon in my organs."

Lawyer Olivier Aumaitre, who represented the women, said: "We are delighted with this outcome which definitively puts an end to the doubts about TUV's responsibility.

A defective silicone gel breast implant, manufactured by PIP, after being removed from a patient in Nice
Image: A defective silicone gel breast implant, manufactured by PIP, after being removed from a patient in Nice

"After 10 years of waiting and fierce combat, the German certifier will have to fully compensate the victims."

A spokesman for TUV Rheinland declined to comment on the judgement, saying the company wanted first to study a translated version first.

When compensation will be awarded and how much has not been decided yet, PIPA (PIP Implant World Victims Association) said.

The organisation is seeking tens of thousands of euros in damages for each victim, it said in a statement, ahead of the first ruling on compensation expected in September.

PIP founder, Jean-Claude Mas, was jailed for four years and fined 75,000 euros (£65,000) in 2013.