The Bloc Québécois is pushing for the establishment of a breast implant registry by the Canadian government to safeguard the rights of patients. This initiative stems from a recommendation made in 2023, which received unanimous support from major political parties in Ottawa, according to Luc Thériault, the Bloc Québécois health spokesperson.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Thériault emphasized the importance of taking action, stating, “Health Canada must act promptly without any excuses.” He stressed the necessity of issuing an urgent notice to family doctors to make them aware of the potential connections between breast implants and symptoms associated with what is commonly referred to as breast implant illness.
Joined by former patients who shared their experiences of enduring severe side effects from breast implants, including Terri McGregor, who disclosed surviving immune system cancer, Thériault highlighted the widespread issue of autoimmune symptoms linked to breast implants. McGregor pointed out the challenges faced by women grappling with these symptoms while being dismissed by the industry and plastic surgeons who deny the existence of breast implant illness.
Physician Isabelle Gaston, who recently released a documentary on the dangers of breast implants, advocated for the implementation of a registry as the most efficient method to identify problematic implants, alert patients, recall faulty products, and manage complications proactively.
The absence of a registry, as emphasized by Gaston, isolates each woman at her own risk and leaves doctors reliant on outdated and incomplete information. A registry, as outlined in a report from the House of Commons Health Committee, would facilitate communication with breast implant recipients, collect comprehensive data on risks and benefits, and ensure continual monitoring of the implants’ long-term safety.
Medical experts, including a professor from the Netherlands specializing in breast implants, lent their support to the Bloc’s proposal during a virtual press briefing. Notably, speakers highlighted that Canada stands as the sole G7 nation without a breast implant registry in place.
