Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi of The London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic at 1 Harley Street points out that ‘It is hugely unethical that some of the country’s largest clinics will not remove these implants; I am also surprised that such large organisations seem to be unsure of what products were used for which patients’.
As the scandal surrounding substandard PIP implants continues to unfold, it has recently come to light that some of Britain’s largest cosmetic surgery clinics, have taken the decision not to replace PIP implants free of charge.
Even more damningly, many stand accused of trying to ‘fob off’ women by discouraging them from coming in for checks on the substandard implants and saying that women may need to wait for up to a month before they will learn whether or not they have PIP implants.
It also seems that some private clinics have been misrepresenting advice given by MHRA. The Times reported this weekend that one clinic’s ‘PIP enquiry script’ advises call handlers to tell women that ‘The MHRA’s current advice is that if you are not experiencing any changes in your breasts then not to worry and only patients that think that their implants have ruptured ought to seek advice from their surgeon. What this means is that there is no need for a scan or for you to remove your implants unless you are showing clear signs of rupture.’
The enquiry script goes on to say: ‘Please do not advise all PIP enquiry patients to have a scan; this is not necessary and is not the guidance which has been given by either the Department of Health or the MHRA’.
PIP implants:
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says that the above recommendations one clinic is currently issuing to patients are ‘simply wrong’. Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi goes on to say ‘it is shocking that this clinic is misrepresenting the Government’s advice in this way, the way in which they have selectively quoted the MHRA is extremely misleading for patients. Currently, it seems that this clinic is not acting in its patient’s best interests’.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi goes on to say that ‘It is essential that any woman who is concerned about PIP implants attends a consultation with her surgeon to determine whether or not she needs a scan. If it is decided that a scan is needed the woman should then be offered one. This is the way in which the NHS is handling its own patients who have had PIP implants and private clinics should certainly be offering the same service to their own patients.’
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says that ‘it is important to bear in mind that the clinics which are refusing to remove PIP implants are by no means representative of the ethics of the industry as a whole. At The London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic we would most certainly offer correct advice to concerned women, as well as removing the implants as quickly as possible and free of charge.’ Currently eight UK clinics have committed to removing and replacing PIP implants free of charge, while others have refused to do so.
PIP implants:
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi is also shocked that private clinics are putting further strain on the NHS, which will provide scans and remove implants if private clinics refuse to do so. Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says that ‘it is wholly unfair that the NHS must care for private sector patients because some clinics have abandoned their duty of care towards their patients. At the London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic at number one Harley Street we take our duty of care towards our patients extremely seriously and would certainly not allow the NHS to clear up this mess’.
Some clinics have attempted to justify their decisions by pointing out that that replacing all PIP implants would cost over £40 million and that these sorts of costs would bankrupt clinics. However,Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says that ‘this justification is simply not acceptable. The CEOs of these clinics are businessmen not Doctors; however they ought to appreciate that as Surgeons it is essential that we consider the welfare of our patients before profits.
These clinics have profited significantly from the breast augmentations they have performed and PIP implants have improved their already wide profit margins due to the fact that they are cheaper than other implants on the market. Patients are now left waiting anxiously and confused by conflicting advice, which is simply unacceptable and certainly not what I would consider to be the correct way in which to practice medicine.
At the London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, if something were to go wrong we would take immediate responsibility and correct the problem no matter what the cost, because that is the ethical way in which we choose to operate our clinic.’
To read more about Laser breast lifting, click here
