French Court Hits German Certifier Over Swine‑Size Breast Implant Mess
In a dramatic twist this week, a court in Nanterre (just outside Paris) ordered the German safety watchdog TÜV to cough up money for about 400 Swedish women who were left high‑and‑dry after the infamous PIP (Poly Implant Prothese) implant scandal.
What the Court Did
- Paid each Swedish doctor in court €4,600 (roughly S$7,180) for the pain and hassle of industry‑grade silicone that turned into a health nightmare.
- Made the company reimburse all costs of pulling out those questionable implants.
This verdict comes one month after France’s top appeals court threw a dagger into TÜV’s arm, demanding they re‑face the negligence charges that had been brushed aside earlier.
Figuring Out the Bigger Picture
In 2011, the world caught wind when doctors discovered the implants were cracking at an alarming rate. That glitch turned into a global saga involving around 400,000 people—mostly Latin Americans—who slipped on the “industrial silicone” band. Even though many health agencies swore the gear was harmless, thousands opted for a surgical clean‑up.
Legal Aftermath
- TÜV was grilled with a fresh €60 million lawsuit, potentially affecting 20,000 victims.
- PIP’s founder, Jean‑Claude Mas, got hit by the law for fraud, smashed a four‑year jail sentence, and the company was shut down back in 2010.
So, if you’re reading this from anywhere in Switzerland, France, or beyond, remember: the breast implant drama still has bite, and judicial blood pressure is still pumping hard to keep the bad guys in line.
