The 22-year history of breast implant litigation gives us the most important lesson. Specifically, scientific research must precede commercial transactions and marketing. Even if scientific data is provided after the fact, it does not stop the development of legal disasters. Because of this lack of data, silicone gel implants were banned for 14 years, more than 2 billion cases were filed in two class actions and over 20,000 cases in individual litigation, the entire industry temporarily collapsed . The following attempt to summarize this story:
1977: Houston's lawyer won the first breast implants lawsuit for Cleveland women who claimed that the implant caused pain and suffering. She received a $ 170,000 settlement from Dow Corning, but that case was rarely reported.
1980: Raph Naders Public Citizen Research Group issued a warning that silicone breast implants cause cancer.
1984: California lawyers prevailed in the case of Maria Stern, who claimed that autoimmune diseases were caused by breast implants. From Dow Cornings' own internal document, it proved to recognize high bursting rate and gel bleeding in 2nd generation implants. Expert witness theorized the silicone immunity link for the first time. The San Francisco court awarded compensatory damages of $ 211,000 and punitive damages of $ 1.5 million.
1990: The television program "Face to Face" was aired with Connie Cheung and the risk of silicone gel-filled breast implants was discussed. Citizen's interest increased and a Council hearing on the safety of breast implants was held.
July 1991: Dow Corning announced 329 studies to the FDA. In another lawsuit against Baxter / Heyer Schulte, the Alabama state court showed only signs of systemic autoimmune disease, but settled a $ 5.4 million settlement to Brenda Toole who had silicone in lymph nodes It was awarded. Experts testified that she was at increased risk of developing autoimmune disease.
December 1991: Dan Bolton, a victor in the case of Maria Stern, claimed to Mr. Mike Hopkins' Mr. Mikkor Hopkins that the mixed connective tissue disease was associated with a burst of silicon breast implants.
February 1992: Class action litigation was raised by Stan Chesley in Cincinnati. Hope was to compensate women at a faster rate than submitting individual lawsuits. FDA panels recommended that further use of silicone implants is restricted only for reconstruction. The panel also concluded that a causal relationship between autoimmune disease and silicone breast implants has not yet been established.
March 1992: Dow Corning, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bioplasty all completed the chest implants business. Dow Corning established a fund for further study on the safety of breast implants.
April 1992: banned the use of silicone breast implants outside of FDA approved research. The only woman allowed to receive the implant was a woman who had undergone breast reconstruction. All implant recipients will be part of the scientific protocol.
March 1994: Class-action lawsuits by manufacturers including Dow Corning, Baxter, Bristol-Meyers Squibb / MEC, 3 M have been finalized. It was $ 3.4 billion, which was the biggest class action suit in history. If you choose, the woman is allowed to drop out of settlement. Companies can also opt out if women register too few women's claim rights
June 1994: Announced a report that the Mayo Clinic epidemiologist did not increase the risk of connective tissue disease in women with silicone breast implants in New England Journal of Medicine.
1995: American College of Rheumatology announced a statement that the evidence that implants do not cause systemic disease is strong.
May 1995: Dow Corning applied for bankruptcy in Chapter 11, and more than 20 thous individual cases were filed. More than 410,000 people are presenting a class action settlement proposal. Bankruptcy inherently suspended all litigation.
November 1995: A new global payment was developed without Dow Corning.
December 1995: More than 20 scientific studies and abstracts showing no causal relationship between silicone implants and various autoimmune diseases have been published.
September 1996: The California Court of Appeals supported the decision to dismiss Dow Corning from 1,800 lawsuits.
December 1996: Because the plaintiff 's lawyers are scientifically invalid, we can not present evidence that silicone implants have caused the disease. 70 complaints have been dismissed.
January 1997: American Academy of Neurology reviewed existing studies and reported that there is no link between silicone breast implants and neurological disorders.
March 1997: Michigan Judge Rule that Dow Corning is famous for hundreds of women in the province.
September 1997: The National Cancer Institute's journal published a review of numerous medical research that concluded that it would not cause breast cancer. Researchers describe evidence that associates implants as "borders" to other diseases.
April 1998: Two large scientific studies did not show that silicone implants are related to neurological diseases.
December 1998: Panel consisting of four independent experts appointed by judge Sam C. Pointer, who oversees federal court implant litigation, will cause disease in silicone breast implants for two years and $ 800,000 There is no scientific evidence yet.
June 1999: The Institute of Medical Research announced a 400 page report prepared by the Independent Committee consisting of 13 scientists. They conclude that the silicone breast implants may be responsible for local problems such as stiffening of the breast tissue and scarring, but the implants do not cause major diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis I gave it. The Institute of Medicine is a member of National Academy of Sciences, the most prestigious scientific research institute in the country. Congress asked the institute to set up a committee.
August 2004: It was the deadline to register for global payment renegotiated with Dow Corning. Dow Corning was founded after chapter 13 bankruptcy. By this time nearly all of the personal law against Dow Corning has been abandoned or destroyed. The litigation era of breast implants almost ended with media fanfare.
November 2006: FDA banned the use of silicone gel filled implants 14 years old? A few years later. Silicon implants sold so far are fourth generation implants, much improved than thin walls and second generation implants, attracting attention from all media. A further improved fifth generation implant is not approved by the FDA, but it is also available in other countries.
