Scotland Calls for International Summit on Mesh Crisis

Former Health Sec. Alex Neil

Mesh Medical Device News Desk, September 26, 2017 ~ Scotland was the first country to call on a ban on the use of polypropylene (PP) transvaginal mesh after hundreds of injured women came forward. It was the first to say NO to an official report. Now the former health secretary is calling for international action.

On Sunday, former Scotland health secretary Alex Neil called the pelvic mesh implant crisis a “worldwide catastrophe” and called for international action and recognition.

Scotland becoming the first country to suspend the use of pelvic mesh implants after testimony to a Scottish Parliament Committee by Scottish Mesh Survivors members and extensive front-page media coverage, primarily by reporter Marion Scott.

Mr. Neil took a stand after meeting with scores of women implanted with PP mesh.

His conclusion, as reported in the Sunday Post:

“A global response is required to one of the biggest medical scandals of modern times. Scotland should continue taking the lead on this issue and host an international summit.”

An official report in Scotland has been called a “whitewash” by campaigners with one expert and two activists resigning from the so called independent review.

Among the complaints, all of the so called “experts” had ties to mesh manufacturers. On Thursday, former committee members will explain their concerns to Holyrood’s Public Petitions committee.

Scottish Mesh Surviors' Elaine Holmes says, “We applaud Mr. Neil. The world is finally waking up to this scandal.”

The Sunday Post reports the creation of an international summit has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

The National Health Service is facing millions in liability as a result of 450 mesh victims filing the largest product liability action in Scottish history.

A petition drive to the Scottish government to keep the mesh ban in place, closed September 1, after calls went out internationally to the mesh-injured community.

Scotland does not have the authority to outright ban mesh. That lies with the MHRA, Scotland’s version of the FDA. It is almost wholly funded by the medical industry many of which make mesh implants, according to the group.

However ,Scotland can continue the suspension for as long as it takes for more awareness to show the dangers. ###

LEARN MORE:

MND, Scottish Mesh Ban Continues with Your Help, July 24, 2017
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/scotland-mesh-ban-continues-help/

MND, Scotland Calls for Criminal Investigation into Boston Scientific and Counterfeit Mesh Allegations, September 2016
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/scotland-calls-criminal-investigation-counterfeit-mesh-allegations-boston-scientific/

MND, Pelvic Mesh Procedures Halted in Scotland, June 2016
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/pelvic-mesh-implant-procedures-halted-scotland/

MND, Scotland Becomes First Country Suspend Use of Pelvic Mesh, June 2014
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/breaking-news-scotland-bans-transvaginal-mesh/