Mesh Injuries Front Page News as Scottish Mesh Petitioners Meet With Parliament

Today’s story from the BBC shows women in Scotland implanted with pelvic mesh are making front page news and making headway in their fight to raise awareness of pelvic mesh injuries. See the BBC story here.

Tuesday, several mesh implant survivors gave “heartbreaking” evidence to the Scottish Parliament Committee. The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign has been urging the government to act in the face of several hundred mesh injuries called "the tip of the iceberg."

Petitioner Olive McIlroy said all mesh implant surgery should be suspended in Scotland.

Olive McLLroy

"I personally met with some of the women affected and I am clear that no one else should have to go through the suffering they have experienced. I think it is imperative that we have expert opinion of the full implications of the use of mesh implants and I think it is of paramount importance that we can be in a position to reassure women all across Scotland that this issue is being treated with the severity it deserves."

Mesh patient Elaine Holmes told the parliamentary committee the mesh-injured women present can’t benefit anyway from today’s testimony but hopefully women in the future will.

Scottish Parliament Committee hearing

Women in the audience were seen behind McLLroy crying and supporting each other “Please make changes to prevent scandals like this in the future,” she pleaded.

One committee member called the petition “one of the most horrific petitions” she’d ever come across.

It’s estimated about 1,500 Scottish women are implanted annually with polypropylene mesh to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse which often happens following childbirth. Scottish Mesh Survivors petitioned the Scottish government to act through the MHRA, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the UK version of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil had written to the chairman of MHRA to seeking an “urgent meeting” to discuss transvaginal mesh.

In Scotland an expert group met in February and will issue an informational leaflet to give to women before they undergo surgery for POP or SUI using polypropylene mesh, the most commonly used mesh material, to let them know there are alternatives to mesh.

McIlroy wants it go further. She is asking implant surgeries be suspended and that reporting adverse events mandatory. At the present time there have been only 12 doctors who have reported adverse events. Petitioners also want an implant registry and full informed consent.

Marion Scott, Sunday Mail reporter

Sunday Mail reporter Marion Scott, who has been the primary news reporter on mesh injuries in the country, also testified alongside the mesh survivors.

Watch the entire hearing on BBC Democracy Live here.

Scottish Petition Here.

See More Headlines in Scotland:

Women warn of incontinence implants Watch , 11 MARCH 2014, SCOTLAND

Faulty implants end women's sex life, 10 MARCH 2014, SCOTLAND

BBC on Scottish Survivors June 2

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-27669702

Radio Clyde News, Linda Sinclair

https://audioboo.fm/boos/2219555-listen-linda-sinclair-speaks-to-mum-who-is-campaigning-for-a-ban-on-controversial-mesh-implants?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Video STV News may 13

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/275126-michael-matheson-answers-questions-on-mesh-implants-at-holyrood/

Health Minister Scotland Calls for Urgent Review of Controversial Treatment, May 11, 2014