Hundreds of victims of PIP implants attended the first day of the trial of Jean-Claude Mas and four of his management team in France yesterday.
PIP founder Mas and his management team are charged with aggravated fraud, and they were booed as they arrived in the Marseille court yesterday.
The trial is considered to be one of the biggest in French legal history and has had to transfer to a 700-seat congress centre to seat the vast numbers of claimants and lawyers.
Faulty PIP implants have affected an estimated 300,000 women in 65 countries since they were sold across the world containing non-authorised industrial-grade silicone gel that was meant for use in mattresses. This caused an abnormally high rate of ruptured implants (4,000 women have reported ruptures) and sparked a global health scare with 15,000 women in France alone having their PIP implants replaced.
The manufacturer, PIP (Poly Implant Prothese), once considered one of the leading suppliers of implants globally, was shut down in March 2010. According to Government statistics, over 42,000 women in Britain received the implants, more than 30,000 in France, 25,000 in Brazil and 15,000 in Colombia.
If convicted, Mas and his management team could receive up to five years in prison.
Have you had cosmetic surgery? Do you have PIP implants? Clear Law is continuing to fight for justice for victims of PIP implants and all victims of medical negligence. If you would like to speak to one of our medical negligence team, contact us on 0800 999 1875 or visit our website at . You can also contact us via our Twitter and Facebook pages at any time.