Australia investigating French breast implant risk

Australia’s medical watchdog agency met Wednesday to assess whether potentially faulty French-made breast implants pose a threat to women. An expert panel of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was meeting to discuss safety concerns about the silicon implants that were made by the now-defunct French company Poly Implant Prothese. The implants were made with cheap industrial silicone instead of medical grade silicone, and were banned last year in countries around the world after more than 1,000 women in France suffered ruptures. Around 8,900 of the implants have been used in Australian women. The TGA — which regulates Australia’s drugs and medical devices — said in a statement that it had received 39 reports of ruptures. Health experts across the globe have been trying to determine the health risk and whether to tell women to have the implants taken out. Last month, French officials said women with the implants should have them removed, with the government picking up the tab. The TGA was reviewing information on rupture rates and consulting with cosmetic surgery experts as part of its investigation. Wednesday’s meeting was not expected to result in a decision on what the agency will recommend, TGA spokeswoman Kay McNiece said.