IMPLANT VICTIMS 'ONLY AFTER MONEY'

The boss of the company at the centre of the breast implant scandal reportedly told police the victims were money grabbers and that he had "nothing to say" to them.

Jean-Claude Mas say that implant victims are "only after money" according to French media

Jean-Claude Mas described during questioning in October how the certifying body had been deceived by what his firm was up to and said "the victims are only complaining in order to receive money", according to French media.

He reportedly told police: "It was routine. I give the order to hide any document relating to non-approved PIP (Poly Implant Protheses) gel and the staff dealt with getting rid of the containers...

"We did it for 13 years without any problem."

He has reportedly denied being motivated by financial concerns.

In a previous interview with police in November 2010 he is said to have insisted he had "nothing to say" to the women affected and said he had "knowingly used a non-approved gel."

When police put to him that the gel posed a health risk, he was said to have replied: "Not to my knowledge."

And when asked how he felt about the fact that thousands of victims had complained, he is reported to have replied: "I have been feeling good for 30 years."

Fazel Fatah, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), dismissed Mr Mas's claims as "despicable."

"These are a group of women who are worried significantly and they have a very valid reason for that.

"It is just despicable. This is not a situation for anybody to try to score points and make money.

"Women have been lumbered with these implants through no fault of their own. Hospitals didn't know it would cause these problems but they have to make sure (the removals of the implants) happen in an orderly fashion with no panic."


PA 2012