Statement from Alan Kelly TD on medical devices scandal.

Issued : Monday 26 November, 2018

Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has described the treatment of patients in receipt of the DePuy hip replacement implants as 'wholly unacceptable'

Commenting today Deputy Kelly said:

"The news today of serious health and mobility deterioration for patients having received the DePuy hip replacement devices, which have now been taken off the market, is shocking. Yet again this year we are hearing of cases of patients raising concerns with doctors and not being informed of all the facts. 

"Patients were advised to use the implants, in some cases as detailed in the papers today, by the doctors who helped design them. It was billed as the hip replacement to give young and active people a new lease on life. In many cases, they led to the deterioration of health for the recipients who have now been left with lifelong disability and pain. 

"One patient interviewed on the Irish Times today was told by her doctor to ignore the information being put out in the public domain about the devices, and that she had received the best possible outcomes. Both of her hip replacement devices have subsequently been removed. Over one thousand people in Ireland have taken action against DePuy and that is not surprising given that Ireland had the highest per capita uptake of the device. 

"I commend the work of the International Consortium of International Investigative Journalist who have brought the suffering of these patients to light. It is becoming all too common in Ireland that we are learning through the media of mistreatment of patients and their need to use litigation to hold those responsible to account.”