De Puy ASR Hip Implant Compensation

De Puy ASR Hip Implants have been the subject of controversy, as many patients experience serious side effects.

Some doctors believe the cup of the De Puy ASR Hip Implant is too shallow and that it is this design flaw which has led to improper implantations; loosening the hip implant within the body, which may result in the release of potentially dangerous levels of chromium and cobalt ions into the body.

The Food and Drug Administration have received more than 300 complaints in 4 years about problems with De Puy ASR Hip implants, including:

• Loose hip cups 
• De Puy ASR Hip Implant dislocations 
• Fractures to the bone
• Pseudotumors caused by metal debris
• Allergic reactions
• Muscle and tissue damage

Hip implants are expected to last up to 15 years, but many implant patients have reported that DePuy ASR Hip implants are failing after just two or three years, requiring expensive and painful second surgeries to have the implant replaced.

To find out more about De Puy ASR Hip implants and to get advice from medical litigation experts, please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 612 2788 (or e-mail enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk).

You & Yours - Faulty PIP Breast Implants

On BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 16th February 2012 at 12:00pm:

You & Yours - Faulty PIP breast implants

Plastic surgeons are accused of cashing in, by offering extra surgery to women having faulty PIP breast implants removed. Julian Worricker presents.

Producer Steven Williams

Series Producer Natalie Fay
BBC Radio 4 12:00pm-8:00pm (30 minutes) Thu 16 Feb

PIP Implant clinics claim not to have the skills to treat problems from ruptures

On Thursday 17th February 2012, The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) released a statement expressing their concern that clinics replacing faulty PIP implants claim 'not to have the skills' to treat problems stemming from ruptures.

BAAPS President Fazal Fatah said:

“One of the side effects from ruptured PIP implants is an inflammatory response in the tissues exposed to the silicone - which is known to be of industrial, rather than medical grade. This can manifest as lumps and bumps in the chest area, under the breast, and enlarged lymph nodes. The lumps that form around the breast – a reaction to free silicone known as granulomas – can vary in size and if large may require to be surgically removed. The lymph glands, which are located in the armpits, act as a filter mechanism and they can become affected and engorged. If greatly enlarged or becoming painful they may require removal after investigation.

Fazel added;

“Any qualified plastic surgeon can easily address these issues, make the appropriate decisions and manage arrangements for investigation in an effective manner – it is part of standard training. Although it may be ostensibly reassuring that untrained practitioners aren’t just trying to ‘have a go’ at complex procedures, these actions then beg the question: who are the surgeons performing the implant replacements and what training have they undergone? Otherwise, one may be pardoned for assuming that this initiative is purely a cost-containment exercise. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking of.”

According to consultant plastic surgeon and former BAAPS President Nigel Mercer;

“I’ve recently seen a number of patients with lumps in their armpits - in one woman's case, the surgeon directly admitted to her not having the skills to remove them. In another instance, the clinic itself told the patient their surgeons weren't competent enough to perform the procedure. Either these clinics' practitioners aren’t qualified plastic surgeons as is generally claimed on their websites, which is clearly alarming, or they don’t want to bear the costs of caring for their own patients. Frankly, neither option should be acceptable to the women affected.”

For more advice on the PIP Implants issue, please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 145 5105 (or e-mail enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk).

Dental Negligence

Going to the dentist is not a pleasant experience for many of us, but, even so, few really expect to receive inadequate treatment.

Sometimes dentists may give less than satisfactory service or even prolong dental treatment by administering unnecessary procedures.

If you have been injured or suffered unnecessary pain as a result of dental negligence, or an unnecessary dental procedure carried out by your dentist, contact us and we will discuss the dental negligence with you.

Dental injuries can be painful and could lead to more serious problems over time.

If you:

• Have suffered incorrect dental treatment
• Want to make a claim for late or misdiagnosis
• Have suffered due to orthodontic errors
• Have received incorrect oral surgery
• Have had an incorrect fitting of crown/bridges

as a result of dental negligence within the past three years, you may be eligible to make a no-win-no-fee dental negligence compensation claim.

Symptoms of dental negligence can include:

• Bleeding gums
• Gum disease           
• Loose teeth
• Swollen gums
• Gum problems
• Lost teeth
• Bleeding when brushing
• Using mouthwash (such as Corsodyl mouthwash) to treat an infection, after a visit to the dentist

To find out more about dental negligence (and to discuss your claim), please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 145 5105 or e-mail enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.

BAAPS denounce PIP implant clinics for pressurising victims

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) have released a press release which highlights the increasing number of women affected by the PIP Implants scandal who are being asked to sign waivers before having their PIP revision surgery.

At Attwood Solicitors, we have been contacted by many women regarding whether or not these waivers should be signed.

We intend to argue that the waivers are unenforceable if signed, due to being signed under pressure of undue influence. Indeed, in today's article, BAAPS President Fazel Fatah, urges “women not to let themselves be bullied or pressured into anything they’re not comfortable with.” This is particularly true with consideration of the fact that many PIP victims have been asked to sign these waivers only hours before PIP revision surgery; having already paid for out for the surgery itself.

However, any woman who has signed a waiver should be aware that this may mean that she is unable to receive any compensation for the faulty PIP breast implants (not only the cost of the revision surgery but also the claim for personal injury compensation as well as the consequential damages that could run into thousands of pounds over and above the costs of the revision surgery), and that she may forfeit her right to pursue a claim. Ultimately it will be for the courts to decide whether or not these waivers are enforceable.

It may be the case that, if you choose to have your revision surgery at a clinic other than where you originally had your PIP implants inserted, you are not asked to sign a waiver. However, the decision whether or not to sign a waiver is a matter for each woman to decide based on her own personal circumstances.

We ask you to be vigilant if asked to sign a waiver and be aware that although we are prepared to pursue a claim for you whether or not you have signed a waiver, there may be consequences of signing a waiver which may effect your ability to claim.

To find out more about the PIP revision surgery waivers, please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 145 5105 (or e-mail enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk).

ITV News finds PIP clinics not supporting women

On Friday 10^th February 2012, ITV News released a report containing evidence that private clinics are failing to support women with faulty PIP implants.

After speaking to PIP implant patients, some women claim they are having to wait up to three weeks to have calls answered and sometimes receive misleading information.

Chris Choi, ITV's Consumer Editor told ITV News about one patient who gave up on getting help from the clinic that put PIP implants into her.

Joanna Roo was denied a scan for her PIP clinic and is paying thousands of pounds to have them removed by a surgeon.

The surgeon discovered that Joanna Roo's PIP implants had broken down inside her body.

Many women are still being kept waiting to discover what condition their PIP implants are in.

Chris Choi, who spoke about PIP implants in the ITV programme The Silicone Scandal, gained exclusive access inside an operating theatre during a procedure to remove a ruptured PIP implant.

For more advice on the PIP implants issue, please contact Attwood Solicitors on 0800 145 5105 (or e-mail enquiries@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.

Forklift Truck Accident Dangers

The Dangers of Working with Forklifts

According to The Fork Lift Truck Association, the biggest danger, posed by forklifts, is when forklifts are used in the same vicinity as pedestrians. It is very easy for a forklift driver to accidentally run over another someone, when they are concentrating on carrying a load or have reduced visibility.

The most common accidents involving forklifts are:-

• A load falling from a forklift and crushing someone.
• Loads being unsecured and falling from a forklift.
• A forklift trapping somebody between the truck and an object, floor or wall.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) says that many forklift accidents are due to poor supervision and/or  lack of training. Other causes of forklift accidents include obstacles, an uneven floor and inadequate work environment.

To protect forklift drivers from having forklift accidents, the following measures should be put in place:-

• Ensuring forklifts are maintained and inspected.
• Using the correct type of forklift for the job.
• Ensuring the work environment is suitable for a forklift.
• Identifying potential risks and acting on these risks.
• Keeping forklifts away from other workers.

If you are injured in a forklift accident because your employer has not followed these precautionary measures, then you have a chance of getting personal injury compensation, because your employer can be seen to be negligent and liable for your accident.

Making a Forklift Truck Accident Compensation Claim:-

If you have been injured in a forklift truck accident, then you could be entitled to make an accident claim against your employer. All injuries, no matter how minor, should have been prevented by your employer, who should act on advice which is freely distributed by several organisations.

Making a claim on a no-win-no-fee basis means that, even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be out of pocket. Our personal injury solicitors will fight your case for you and you will be entitled to 100% of the compensation, should you be successful.

To discover what personal injury compensation you may be entitled to, contact us today on 0800 145 5105 or e-mail info@attwoodsolicitors.co.uk.