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Cobalt poisoning, DePuy, DePuy ASR Hip, Earl, Erin Brockovich, Food & Drug Administration, Health, Hip Replacement, hip replacement failure, hip revision, Medicine, Mental Health, Nephew, NephewSmith, Smith, Smith & Nephew
New website: www.metalhipproblems.co.uk
It was complete relief when I came across Earl‘s View with the relevation that it was not just me that was suffering. Over the past year I have looked at many posts about Smith & Nephew problems – of which I too suffer – and have wished that there was an ‘Erin Brockovich‘ in the UK who would take up the mantle to provide a voice for us.
After talking to one of the contacts in the UK I thought ‘Go for it’ there’s nothing to lose other than a few pounds and if I can help one person it will be worth it.
My aim to to collect data of symptoms: post metal on metal implant surgery and post revision. It’s an easy tick box and I hope this info might help researchers listen to us – the patients – about what is happening, (if they’re prepared to listen). My other aim is to become the ‘voice’ of us struggling to fight Smith & Nephew with a pressure group, strength in numbers, etc., get Lawyers who are prepared to take on Goliath, gain media support and so on.
Although my blog is about Smith & Nephew and patients within UK I welcome any comments from elsewhere but there is already enough about De Puy, I want pressure on S&N. Please help me help you. Thank you.
Gayle Blanchflower
www.metalhipproblems.co.uk
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Gayle, you have an excellent idea and plan. I will help support your cause as best I can from the USA.
A year ago I sent a letter to Erin Brokovich, I never heard back from her, however being as busy as she and her firm are I didn’t expect a return. Perhaps if she received
20 or more letters from victims of the bhr, may help.
In the USA the fact that this device was approved through the FDA’s pma (pre-marketing approval) process gives the manufacturer pre-exemptions laws to protect them. In other words they get to hurt us and there is very little we can do about it.
An act of Congress or the FDA would have to rescind the approval of the bhr.
Then the attorneys would be able to proceed in defending our cases. As it stands now we would be fighting against the Government.
The mere fact this device was approved in the USA by the FDA was a mockery.
A single test group, controlled by a single physician with data he controlled and submitted is an issue of contention. The FDA bypassed it’s own rules and regulations
in it’s approval process ( demonstrating the manufacturer is more important than the safety of human beings) some of the data couldn’t even be verified.
The frosting on the cake how in GOD’S NAME a conflict of interest between the inventor and the approval by the FDA was bypassed is just not acceptable, nor moral nor right. I attribute this approval to CORRUPTION in thee medical device world and the powers to be that approved the device.
The citizen’s petition filed by Wright Medical to deny this approval ( and correspondence between FDA, Wright and Smith and Nephew clearly demonstrates how this device should have never been approved, yet it was????)
One of the inventors McMinn even told Smith & Nephew maybe they were moving too fast on marketing this device as there unknowns; the issue of uncertainty was the impact metal particles may have on the human body.
Yet market share and rates of returns to the investor was the primary goal. Plus the fact this was a first of it’s kind gave Smith & Nephew (estimated 30%-40% of the market on hip resurfacing devices) control of the market place. Soon after the bhr approval other’s followed suit through the 510k approval process.
Today we are seeing living proof of the mistake in approving this device.
Yes there are those folks that have had no issues with the bhr, YET based on articles written on various blogs and medical journals and reports, it appears the bhr failure rate is well above the 1% failure rate.
The bhr implants are far fewer than others, so Smith & Nephew is trying to get under the radar and not noticed plus they have the pre-emption laws on their side.
Even Smith & Nephew’s post approval reports are an absolute bad joke
the information is basically useless, they use 18-21 year old hand picked patients,
they report their device has far fewer problems than their competition.
Competition, what is the competition on metal on metal resurfacing devices ? practically none if at all. So Smith & Nephew’s reports when comparing their bhr to other devices is not realistic.
Smith & Nephew has recalled a plastic liner on their R3 acetabular and another part on their bhmr, not the whole WHY so they can continue selling these potentially dangerous devices.
I would suggest don’t give up if you have been harmed by this device this company must be held accountable to those they have hurt. If the Church, Boy Scouts, Penn State, BP oil and automobile groups and industries are held accountable, how does Smith and Nephew get a free pass ???
Howard Sadwin
Howard, thanks for your support. I may as well use the time I have on my hands as I can’t work. Determined to get as loud a voice as possible. I have already received 5 responses to the symptoms form – not bad considering the site went live just 3 days ago. Let’s go get them! Gayle Blanchflower
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Happy New Year to you all
I wasn’t sure where to post this as even though I am, sort of managing, my own blog it’s still a bit confusing. Anyway my new year hasn’t got off to a good start. I had an appointment with Southampton Hospital on 31st Dec to get results from blood and MARS MRI. The good news is I don’t have any fluid or pseudotumour but the bad news is I have a large ‘tear’ in the abductor muscles which are inoperable, the nerves in the area are freaking out! This explains my major pain for the last 2 1/2 years up the back, around the hip, down the groin and so on. So this is what I’m left with for the rest of my life. The surgeon (Ben Bolland whos’ name appears in many scientific articles/research) thinks it might be from the metal ions or the surgery.
Thinking positively Ben is very pro my site http://www.metalhipproblems.co.uk and will offer any advice or suggestions. He has also reiterated that they would like me to join the group being set up for revision surgery, emphasis on metal implants. to provide a patients prospective. He also thinks I will learn alot so that I can pass on to all.
Earl even though I have my site I have no hestitation to continue keeping you in the loop. I have had a resonable reaction to my site although some people are not realising I only want Smith & Nephew responses. Ben Bolland was very interested in the sample questionaires I took with me and thinks they are valuable. So people please respond as I’m trying to help us all.
Yours in pain!
Gayle
Hi Gayle
Happy New Year!
Thanks for the note. I will post it shortly. Being a little slack over the holidays.
All the best
Earl
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