Patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes calls for government action to assist victims of pelvic mesh implants and sodium valproate, highlighting the significant harm caused by these treatments.
Patient safety commissioner Dr Henrietta Hughes has called for urgent action to address the harm caused by pelvic mesh implants and the epilepsy drug sodium valproate. Dr Hughes stated that it is an injustice that thousands of women have suffered life-altering consequences due to these treatments. Some women have been left in permanent pain, unable to walk, work, or engage in sexual activity after pelvic mesh surgery intended to treat incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
The Department of Health and Social Care expressed sympathy for those affected, acknowledging the complexity of the issue. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron met with some victims before Christmas and pledged to provide an update to the patient safety commissioner as soon as possible.Dr Hughes expressed disappointment that women who have endured significant harm are still awaiting redress. Pelvic mesh was widely regarded as a gold-standard treatment for incontinence and prolapse in women for many years, providing support to weakened or damaged tissue. The Hughes report also urged the government to act swiftly to assist victims of another treatment scandal involving sodium valproate. This epilepsy medication, if taken during pregnancy, can cause severe birth defects. However, for decades, women were not adequately warned about these risks. An estimated 20,000 children were exposed to the drug in the womb, and many now face neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism.Joanne Cozens, who took sodium valproate during her pregnancy, expressed concerns about her ability to care for her son Thomas, who has Asperger's syndrome. She stated that she was not properly informed about the dangers before becoming pregnant. The report recommended initial payments of £100,000 for sodium valproate victims and £20,000 for women injured by mesh, with the possibility of further payments for some, along with non-financial assistance to victims and their families.
PATIENT SAFETY PELVIC MESH SODIUM VALPROATE BIRTH DEFECTS TREATMENT SCANDALS
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