WOMEN’S lives have been ruined and families shattered because of transvaginal mesh implants, MSP Rona Mackay has said.
The Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP took part in the debate on Polypropylene Mesh Medical Devices on December 5.
She echoed calls for the debate to be non-party political and praised campaigning MSPs in the SNP, Greens, Tories and Labour Party.
The debate was brought to the chamber through the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, of which Ms Mackay is a member of.
The use of synthetic transvaginal tapes and meshes was suspended in 2014 after some women suffered painful and crippling complications.
Ms Mackay said: “I was glad to be able to speak at the debate on Polypropylene Mesh Medical Devices, or, as most know it, transvaginal mesh implants.
“This very serious issue should not be political because the mesh survivors watching this debate could not care less about party politics.
“They are simply searching for answers, asking why this has happened to them and why a surgical procedure that was supposed to help them has ruined their lives.
“We now know that thousands of women worldwide have been affected — mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and grans. So many lives ruined, families shattered.
“The Scottish Government cannot ban the use of medical procedures, but it can ask health boards to suspend their use, which is what was done.
“It is, however, the UK body — the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) — that decides what medical products are safe. We must now put complete pressure on the MHRA, which has been in denial over this issue from day one.
“We should ask what more proof it needs that the product is not safe and show it the victims. We should tell the MHRA to tell health boards that the product is not available for use.”
Read and watch Ms Mackay’s full speech at www.ronamackay.scot.
ENDS