Thank you.
I share the concerns of my Liberal colleague. We are quite worried regarding these new silicone gel-filled implants that have been put on the market by Mentor and that are being criticized as well by a certain community in the area of health in the United States, where these silicone gel implants have already been approved by the FDA.
It seems that the use of these new silicone gels has been approved not because there was a concern about the health of women, but rather for business reasons, following some pressures that have been exerted by the cosmetic surgery industry. How can you be certain that this product is safe? You said that there were many studies, that there was a follow up and that data were collected, but beforehand, the implants that were used on women also required follow-up studies in order to protect their health. Ten years from now, we may not be here to ask other questions to Health Canada about the impact that the use of these implants have on women.
So I believe that you do have an important role to play and a great responsibility. Health Canada authorizes the marketing of a product, and then declares that it is no longer their problem, that the patient and her physician will be able to deal with the whole issue of the control and safety of these breast implants. It seems to me that you have been rather irresponsible in allowing the sale of such implants, all the more so that they are being criticized elsewhere and that there could be a risk of puncture. As you said earlier, the use of these breast implants on women has some potential effects.
I would like to hear you on this issue, especially that you are talking about 2,500 different data. Could you explain what all these data are about?