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Ethicon Media Monitoring 9/7/2018
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Inquiry call after mesh implant 'linked to woman's death'
Sep 6, 2018 | BBC News
The Scottish government has been urged to launch an inquiry after the death of a woman was linked to controversial mesh implants. -
Mesh implants ban demanded after link to pensioner’s death
Sep 6, 2018 | ITV News
Calls have been made for mesh implants to be immediately banned after they were linked to the death of a pensioner. -
MSP calls for immediate ban on mesh implants after Midlothian great-gran’s death linked to controversial surgery
Sep 6, 2018 | The Scottish Sun
By Katy Pagan
The mesh implant should be immediately banned after the death of a great-gran was linked to the controversial surgery, politicians have argued. -
Woman, 75, dies from internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea five years after having controversial mesh implant - as she becomes the first person in Scotland to have the surgery listed as an underlying cause of death
Sep 6, 2018 | Daily Mail
By Brendan McFadden
A 75-year-old woman who underwent controversial mesh implant surgery is believed to be the first in Scotland to have the procedure listed as an underlying cause of death. -
Woman died after having controversial vaginal mesh fitted
Sep 6, 2018 | Metro
By Jen Mills
A woman died of multiple organ failure after having vaginal mesh fitted. The controversial procedure is used to treat people after childbirth who have suffered pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. -
Scottish Government will consider review after mesh implant linked to death
Sep 6, 2018 | Mail Online
The Scottish Government will consider whether a review or inquiry should be held after the death of a woman was linked to a mesh implant, Nicola Sturgeon has said. -
Mesh implant linked to death of Eileen Baxter
Sep 7, 2018 | The Times
By Helen Puttick
A great grandmother who underwent controversial mesh implant surgery is thought to be the first person in Scotland to have the operation mentioned as an underlying cause of death. -
Mesh implant woman's son: 'They have to put a stop to this'
Sep 7, 2018 | STV News
By Chris Clements
The son of woman whose death has been linked to her mesh implant has called for a ban on the controversial operation. -
Mesh implants were listed as an underlying cause in the death of Eileen Baxter
Sep 6, 2018 | Evening Times
By Caroline Wilson
Eileen Baxter, 75, died in August after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Online Sources
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Inquiry call after mesh implant 'linked to woman's death'
Sep 6, 2018 | BBC News
The Scottish government has been urged to launch an inquiry after the death of a woman was linked to controversial mesh implants.
Eileen Baxter, 75, from Loanhead, died in hospital in Edinburgh last month.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay said that he believed it was the first time mesh had been specifically cited as an underlying cause of death in Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon said the government would consider a review if it received information about Mrs Baxter's case.
The use of mesh implants in NHS Scotland was suspended four years ago in all but exceptional circumstances.
Raising the the circumstances of Mrs Baxter's death at First Minister's Questions, Mr Findlay asked: "With this new information will the first minister now instruct an inquiry into Mrs Baxter's death?
"Will she instruct NHS boards not to buy one more box of mesh implants? Will she instruct the NHS to clear their shelves of all mesh?
"And will she make sure that not another implant is carried out in Scotland using this grotesque and deadly product?"
In response, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government would "give careful consideration" to whether a review was required.
The first minister said she planned to discuss mesh implants with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman later.
Ms Sturgeon added: "The use, other than in exceptional circumstances, remains under suspension in NHS Scotland.
"We've seen the number of operations fall dramatically. In the six months to March this year there were 33 operations carried out. That compares to over 11,000 in a similar period in 2013/14.
"We will continue to have that suspension in place until the chief medical officer is satisfied. The chief medical officer also announced some further actions followed the petitions committee report.
"Medical devices across the UK are regulated by the medicines and health care products regulatory agency and that is a reserved matter, but we will continue to work within the health service to ensure that we are taking appropriate action. "
Multiple organ failure was cited as the primary cause of death on Mrs Baxter's death certificate, but "sacrocolpopexy mesh repair" is named as an underlying factor.
Earlier Mrs Baxter's son, Mark, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programmethat he was "very angry" about his mother's death.
He said her health had slowly declined after she underwent the procedure.
Mr Baxter, from Peebles, added: "Mum had said she would love to do something about this if the mesh implant caused all the problems, but mum was so poor and we were just more interested in mum getting better. Sadly it never turned out like that."
He said he was angry at the pain his mother had suffered and that he was "getting no answers".
"I'd love to ask why, why this happened?" he said.
"Could they have put a stop to this?"
Last month Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee called for a complete ban on the use of mesh implants, citing "serious concerns" over an independent review into their use.
It concluded the procedure must not be offered "routinely" to women with pelvic organ prolapse.
The review was announced by the Scottish government in 2014, with health boards requested to stop the procedure until its conclusion.
However the final report of the independent review was branded a "whitewash" by women who have suffered painful and debilitating complications from mesh, including campaigners Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy, who brought the issue to prominence when they lodged a petition with the Parliament on behalf of the Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign.
Professor Alison Britton has been commissioned to conduct a review of the review, which is due to report later this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-45430625?ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=scotland&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_scotland_news
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Mesh implants ban demanded after link to pensioner’s death
Sep 6, 2018 | ITV News
Calls have been made for mesh implants to be immediately banned after they were linked to the death of a pensioner.
The Scotsman reports that Eileen Baxter, 75, died on August 27 after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh the previous week with internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.
Multiple organ failure was said to have led to her death, with sacrocolopexy mesh repair – an implant to fix a pelvic organ prolapse – shown as an underlying cause, according to the newspaper.
Her son Mark Baxter told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme he was “very angry” at what his mother had been through before her death.
The 52-year-old added: “Mum had said she would love to do something about this if this mesh implant caused all the problems.
“Mum was so poor and we were just interested in mum getting better.
“Sadly it never turned out that way.
“I would love to ask them (medical professionals) did they know the implications – did they know exactly what this was going to do?
“I know they were thinking that this was going to be okay, but the implications are massive – mum’s not here.
“I would love to ask why this happened, could they have put a stop to this?
He added: “We are just so devastated this has happened.”
“Mum was the life and soul of the party, but after this mesh implant it was just a slow decline in her health.
“They don’t seem to care, the NHS.”
Mr Baxter told the newspaper the mother-of-two and great-grandmother, from Loanhead in Midlothian, had mesh surgery five years ago.
The Scotsman reports it caused chronic pelvic inflammation and possible sepsis leading to anterior rectal perforation and multiple organ failure, which led to her death.
Scottish Labour said it is believed this is the first time a mesh implant has been officially listed as a cause of death in Scotland.
Neil Findlay MSP said: “The news that a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.
“In light of Ms Baxter’s death, it is crucial that the Cabinet Secretary for Health investigates this specific case fully to ensure no further harm is done to women in any part of the country.
“This news leaves absolutely no doubt that the minister must also now immediately ban mesh implants from NHS Scotland.
“Many women who have undergone this procedure say they have experienced infections, bleeding and even paralysis.
“Mesh implants should be consigned to the history books and those manufacturers who potentially broke the law should be prosecuted.”
Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, said: “We are unable to discuss individual care without consent. If patients or relatives have concerns surrounding care or treatment, we would urge them to get in touch with us and contact our patient experience team.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our condolences go to the family and friends of Eileen Baxter.
“The Scottish Government does not hold information on individual patients or their treatment, but we will give any information supplied to us on Ms Baxter’s case very careful consideration.”
http://www.itv.com/news/2018-09-06/scotland-mesh-implants-ban-demanded-after-link-to-pensioners-death/
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Sep 6, 2018 | The Scottish Sun
By Katy Pagan
The mesh implant should be immediately banned after the death of a great-gran was linked to the controversial surgery, politicians have argued.
Eileen Baxter, 75, died last week of organ failure after suffering internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.
And today it was revealed the implant was listed as a contributing cause of the pensioner’s death, in what is believed to be a first in Scotland.
More than 20,000 women across the country have received the implant over the past two decades, with some suffering excruciating complications.
The Scottish Government recommended suspension of mesh implants in 2014, but since then around 400 procedures have still been carried out.
Tragic Eileen underwent the procedure five years ago. She died in hospital on August 27.
Labour chiefs are now demanding the Cabinet Secretary for Health bans mesh implants.
They have also called for a full investigation into Eileen’s case to ensure no further harm is done to women across the country who have underwent the discredited treatment.
Scottish Labour MSP, and long-time campaigner for mesh victims, Neil Findlay MSP said: “The news that a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.
“In light of Ms Baxter’s death, it is crucial that the Cabinet Secretary for Health investigates this specific case fully to ensure no further harm is done to women in any part of the country.
“This news leaves absolutely no doubt that the Minister must also now immediately ban mesh implants from NHS Scotland.
“Many women who have undergone this procedure say they have experienced infections, bleeding and even paralysis.
“Mesh implants should be consigned to the history books and those manufacturers who potentially broke the law should be prosecuted.”
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/3170632/scotland-ban-mesh-implant-death-pensioner-eileen-baxter-labour-neil-findlay/
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Sep 6, 2018 | Daily Mail
By Brendan McFadden
A 75-year-old woman who underwent controversial mesh implant surgery is believed to be the first in Scotland to have the procedure listed as an underlying cause of death.
Eileen Baxter passed away on August 27 after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) the previous week with internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.
Mrs Baxter, from Loanhead, Midlothian, underwent mesh surgery five years ago to treat pelvic organ prolapse - a condition that can commonly occur after childbirth.
The mum-of-two has multiple organ failure listed as directly leading to her death.
But the sacrocolopexy mesh repair - an implant to fix a pelvic organ prolapse - is listed as an underlying cause of death.
The implants are medical devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence in women.
The mesh, usually made from synthetic polypropylene, is used to repair damaged or weakened tissue.
More than 20,000 women in Scotland have had the implants over the past 20 years, but some have suffered painful and debilitating complications.
Eileen's son Mark says he now wants to 'legally pursue' her case after being told by a doctor a week before his mother died that she was responding well to the treatment.
Mark, says he was given the number for the legal department of the RIE by medical staff after he asked for a copy of his mother's death certificate.
The 52-year-old, from Peebles, Scottish Borders, said: 'I've told them I'm going to take things as far as I can.
'They said they were very surprised where the tear in the bowel was. I mentioned my mother's mesh implant to the doctor, but we never got a straight answer.
'I'm really angry that my mother is not still here and I'm really annoyed she went through all of this.
'They didn't bother about her. They didn't seem to care about her.'
In 2013, Eileen got the mesh implant and son Mark says from there it went 'downhill for her health'.
Eileen started to suffer from a 'leaking bladder' and her legs were 'really swollen'.
Mark says his mum was rushed to hospital in August this year and medics in the ambulance said she could have had internal bleeding because her legs were swollen.
But when she got to the royal infirmary doctors had to give her an emergency operation because her bowel had perforated.
Mark added: 'That was the last proper conversation I had with her. That original mesh operation killed my mum.
'They didn't tell her about the implications she would have.
'I still can't believe the heart and soul of the party has now gone. In my head, this is a form of murder.'
Mark, a maintenance painter for a construction company, says his dad has been left completely devastated by the death of wife Eileen - who is also a great-gran.
He said: 'I would like to legally pursue this, but I don't know if we can get legal aid. We're so annoyed and my poor dad Chic (79) is lost.
'He's completely devastated because they were so close. They did everything together.
'I want to people to know about this worldwide and it still shocks me that the week before she died the doctor had said she was responding well to treatment.
The Scottish Government recommended suspension of mesh implants in their use by the NHS in 2014 while an independent safety review was carried out.
But since then around 400 procedures have been completed.
Kath Sansom, founder of campaign group, Sling The Mesh, which is calling for the mesh procedure to be banned, said Mrs Baxter's death is an example of how dangerous the surgery can be.
She said: ' I think what is so painful it is easier to ignire her and push her to one side.
'It is sad that a woman has gone for a simple operation and ended up with complications from her mesh.
'She had a really painful death and has been ignored until the last minute.'
Mrs Sansom added she believed that there had been 11 deaths as a result of the sacrocolopexy mesh repair.
Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who has campaigned vigorously on behalf of the Scottish Mesh Survivors group, called on Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to launch an investigation into this specific case to 'ensure no further harm' is done to women across the country.
He said: 'The news a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.
'Mesh implants should be consigned to the history books and those manufacturers who potentially broke the law should be prosecuted.'
The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign said in 2014 that 12 women had reported cases to the UK-wide Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Mesh survivor Elaine Holmes, from Newton Mearns, said: 'It's absolutely shocking, what concerns me is the possible sepsis - this woman suffered terribly, has she become anti-biotic resistant?
'Has she been dismissed and ignored? There are so many questions needing asked in this case.'
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Our condolences go to the family and friends of Eileen Baxter.
'The Scottish Government does not hold information on individual patients or their treatment, but we will give any information supplied to us on Ms Baxter's case very careful consideration.'
NHS Lothian which are responsible for the hospital have been approached by MailOnline for comment.
WHAT ARE VAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS?
Vaginal mesh implants are devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women.
Usually made from synthetic polypropylene, a type of plastic, the implants are intended to repair damaged or weakened tissue in the vagina wall.
Other fabrics include polyester, human tissue and absorbable synthetic materials.
Some women report severe and constant abdominal and vaginal pain after the surgery. In some, the pain is so severe they are unable to have sex.
Infections, bleeding and even organ erosion has also been reported.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESH?
Mini-sling: This implant is embedded with a metallic inserter. It sits close to the mid-section of a woman's urethra. The use of an inserter is thought to lower the risk of cutting during the procedure.
TVT sling: Such a sling is held in place by the patient's body. It is inserted with a plastic tape by cutting the vagina and making two incisions in the abdomen. The mesh sits beneath the urethra.
TVTO sling: Inserted through the groin and sits under the urethra. This sling was intended to prevent bladder perforation.
TOT sling: Involves forming a 'hammock' of fibrous tissue in the urethra. Surgeons often claim this form of implant gives them the most control during implantation.
Ventral mesh rectopexy: Releases the rectum from the back of the vagina or bladder. A mesh is then fitted to the back of the rectum to prevent prolapse.
HOW MANY WOMEN SUFFER?
According to the NHS and MHRA, the risk of vaginal mesh pain after an implant is between one and three per cent.
But a study by Case Western Reserve University found that up to 42 per cent of patients experience complications.
Of which, 77 per cent report severe pain and 30 per cent claim to have a lost or reduced sex life.
Urinary infections have been reported in around 22 per cent of cases, while bladder perforation occurs in up to 31 per cent of incidences.
Critics of the implants say trials confirming their supposed safety have been small or conducted in animals, who are unable to describe pain or a loss of sex life.
Kath Samson, founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign, said surgeons often refuse to accept vaginal mesh implants are causing pain.
She warned that they are not obligated to report such complications anyway, and as a result, less than 40 per cent of surgeons do.
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-6138851/Woman-person-Scotland-surgery-listed-underlying-cause-death.html
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Woman died after having controversial vaginal mesh fitted
Sep 6, 2018 | Metro
By Jen Mills
A woman died of multiple organ failure after having vaginal mesh fitted. The controversial procedure is used to treat people after childbirth who have suffered pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence.
However, it has been linked to numerous debilitating complications for people. Eileen Baxter, 75, is believed to be the first woman in Scotland to have the procedure listed as an underlying cause of death.
She passed away on August 27 after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) the previous week with internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea.
Mrs Baxter, from Loanhead, Midlothian, underwent mesh surgery five years. The mum-of-two has multiple organ failure listed as directly leading to her death.
But the sacrocolopexy mesh repair – an implant to fix a pelvic organ prolapse – is listed as an underlying cause. The mesh, usually made from synthetic polypropylene, is used to repair damaged or weakened tissue.
Eileen’s son Mark says he now wants to ‘legally pursue’ her case after being told by a doctor a week before his mother died that she was responding well to the treatment.
Mark, says he was given the number for the legal department of the RIE by medical staff after he asked for a copy of his mother’s death certificate. The 52-year-old, from Peebles, Scottish Borders, said: ‘I’ve told them I’m going to take things as far as I can.
‘They said they were very surprised where the tear in the bowel was. I mentioned my mother’s mesh implant to the doctor, but we never got a straight answer.
‘I’m really angry that my mother is not still here and I’m really annoyed she went through all of this. ‘They didn’t bother about her.
They didn’t seem to care about her.’ In 2013, Eileen got the mesh implant and son Mark says from there it went ‘downhill for her health’.
Eileen started to suffer from a ‘leaking bladder’ and her legs were ‘really swollen’. Mark says his mum was rushed to hospital in August this year and medics in the ambulance said she could have had internal bleeding because her legs were swollen.
But when she got to the royal infirmary doctors had to give her an emergency operation because her bowel had perforated.
Mark added: ‘When she was rushed to hospital on August 19 and got an emergency operation at around 6pm that evening.
‘I remember saying to her ‘you are going to be okay mum, you will recover from this operation’ and she said ‘No Mark this is different’. ‘That was the last proper conversation I had with her.
That original mesh operation killed my mum. ‘I still can’t believe the heart and soul of the party has now gone. In my head, this is a form of murder.’
Mark, a maintenance painter for a construction company, says his dad has been left completely devastated by the death of wife Eileen, who was also a great-grandmother.
He said: ‘He’s completely devastated because they were so close. They did everything together.’
The Scottish Government recommended suspension of mesh implants in their use by the NHS in 2014 while an independent safety review was carried out. But since then around 400 procedures have been completed.
Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: ‘The news a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.
‘Mesh implants should be consigned to the history books and those manufacturers who potentially broke the law should be prosecuted.’
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:‘Our condolences go to the family and friends of Eileen Baxter.
‘The Scottish Government does not hold information on individual patients or their treatment, but we will give any information supplied to us on Ms Baxter’s case very careful consideration.’
https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/06/woman-died-after-having-controversial-vaginal-mesh-fitted-7920553/
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Scottish Government will consider review after mesh implant linked to death
Sep 6, 2018 | Mail Online
The Scottish Government will consider whether a review or inquiry should be held after the death of a woman was linked to a mesh implant, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The case of Eileen Baxter, 75, who died last month after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, was raised during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay said he believed the case was the first time mesh had been specifically cited as one of the underlying causes of a woman’s death in Scotland.
Last month Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee called for the use of mesh implants to stop, citing “serious concerns” over an independent review into their use.
Mr Findlay said: “With this new information, will the First Minister now instruct an inquiry into Ms Baxter’s death, will she instruct NHS health boards not to buy one more box of mesh implants, will she instruct the NHS to clear their shelves of all mesh and will she make sure that not another implant is carried out in Scotland using this grotesque and deadly product?”
Ms Sturgeon said the issue is “extremely serious” and gave her condolences to Ms Baxter’s family and friends.
She said: “The Scottish Government doesn’t hold information on individual patients or their treatment but if we are supplied with information on Ms Baxter’s case we will give that very careful consideration and consider whether any further review or inquiry into that specific case is required.”
Ms Sturgeon said she is due to discuss the issue of mesh more generally with the Health Secretary.
Last year the independent review concluded the procedure – used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) – must not be offered “routinely” to women with pelvic organ prolapse.
The review was announced by the Scottish Government in 2014, with health boards requested to stop the procedure until its conclusion.
“The use other than in exceptional circumstances remains under suspension in NHS Scotland,” the First Minister said.
“We’ve seen the number of operations fall dramatically. In the six months to March this year there were 33 operations carried out, that compares to over 1,100 in the similar period in 2013/14.
“We will continue to have that suspension in place until the chief medical officer is satisfied. The chief medical officer also announced some further actions following the petitions committee report.
“Medical devices across the UK are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and that is a reserved matter but we will continue to work within the health service to ensure that we are taking appropriate action.”
The final report of the independent review was branded a “whitewash” by women who have suffered painful and debilitating complications from mesh, including campaigners Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy, who brought the issue to prominence when they lodged a petition with the Parliament on behalf of the Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign.
Professor Alison Britton has been commissioned to conduct a review of the review, which is due to report later this year.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-6138855/Scottish-Government-consider-review-mesh-implant-linked-death.html
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Mesh implant linked to death of Eileen Baxter
Sep 7, 2018 | The Times
By Helen Puttick
A great grandmother who underwent controversial mesh implant surgery is thought to be the first person in Scotland to have the operation mentioned as an underlying cause of death.
Eileen Baxter, 75, was taken to hospital on August 19 after suffering with violent sickness and diarrhoea and died the following week. On her death certificate it says she died from multiple organ failure. A “sacrocolpopexy mesh repair”, which she had five years earlier, is listed as a factor.
Nicola Sturgeon has offered condolences to the Baxter family and said she would consider holding a review or inquiry into the case.
Ms Baxter’s son, Mark, 52, said: “When they got her into hospital, they must have sent her for a CT scan, they discovered that her…
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Story can be found here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mesh-implant-linked-to-woman-s-death-xxr69txkf
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Mesh implant woman's son: 'They have to put a stop to this'
Sep 7, 2018 | STV News
By Chris Clements
The son of woman whose death has been linked to her mesh implant has called for a ban on the controversial operation.
Eileen Baxter had what was meant to be a simple operation, but the mesh implant had devastating effects on the final years of her life.
The 75-year-old great-grandmother died of organ failure last month, but her implant was listed as an underlying cause.
"My mum was the life and soul of the party, prior to her getting her mesh repair," said Max Baxter.
"She lived for her grandkids, for her kids."
Max said that the operation affected her really badly, and she went downhill from there.
"She had numerous problems with going to the toilet and everyday life - pains in her legs, legs swollen, back pain," he continued.
"She always said that this is the mesh that's doing this.
"When I saw the death certificate I was really shocked, I thought 'oh my God, that's what killed my mum.'"
It is thought Eileen's death is the first in Scotland to be linked to the controversial operation.
More than 20,000 women have received mesh implants in the last two decades, mainly for conditions such as incontinence and pelvic prolapse, but in recent years, campaigners highlighted painful and debilitating complications arising from the procedure.
Just last month, six days before Eileen's death, Scotland's chief medical officer rejected calls to ban mesh outright.
However on Thursday, health minister Jeanne Freeman said she has not ruled out a review into the use of the procedure and circumstances of Eileen's death.
"It is really a serious matter - we've always taken the position, in terms of mesh implants in women, very seriously indeed," she said.
"I'll be talking to our chief medical officer and others about what this implies based on any further information that we get - and we need to have that information."
MSP Neil Findlay from Scottish Labour demanded the NHS boards stop using mesh completely.
He said: "I want the government and NHS boards to clear the shelves of this grotesque product.
"I think no other mesh kits should be bought and I think we need to take action to ensure that no other woman is implanted with this stuff."
Max added: "I'm no medical expert but the hospitals have got to now realise that they've admitted basically on the death certificate that this was the cause of mum's death.
"They've got to basically put a stop on this - this is serious stuff, it basically killed my mum, it's that serious.
"We're the voice for my mum now, she never had that chance."
https://stv.tv/news/east-central/1430438-mesh-implant-woman-s-son-demands-ban-after-her-death/
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Mesh implants were listed as an underlying cause in the death of Eileen Baxter
Sep 6, 2018 | Evening Times
By Caroline Wilson
Eileen Baxter, 75, died in August after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
An implant to fix a pelvic organ prolapse was noted as an underlying cause of death.
The Scottish Government has said it will consider whether a review or inquiry should be held in the wake of Mrs Baxter’s death.
Her son Mark Baxter welcomed the news but also called for a complete ban on the implants.
He said: "Prior to the implant she was the life and soul of the party, she was a great dancer and she loved going shopping.
"After the implant she was not able to do the simple things in life, she could never do what she once was able to do. It hurt my mum so much, but she put on a brave face.
"It was hard to see my mum like that and she was in a lot of pain."
“I want to see it totally banned. I don’t want to see any other woman going through what my mum went through, or any other family going through it.
“It is hard to read that they are still carrying out this procedure.
“My mum has been a massive loss, not just to me and my family but outside the family circle. She was my best pal and my best friend.”
He said he was “devastated” at what happened to his mother, and added: “That mesh took my mother’s dignity completely away.”
Mrs Baxter, from Loanhead in Midlothian, leaves her husband Chic, two children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Scottish Labour said it is believed to be the first time a mesh implant has been officially listed as a cause of death in Scotland.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “The news that a repair to a mesh implant carried out by NHS Scotland was a contributing factor in the death of Eileen Baxter will deeply distress not only her family but the many hundreds of women in Scotland who underwent this procedure.
“In light of Mrs Baxter’s death, it is crucial that the Cabinet Secretary for Health investigates this specific case fully to ensure no further harm is done to women in any part of the country.
“This news leaves absolutely no doubt that the minister must also now immediately ban mesh implants from NHS Scotland.
“Many women who have undergone this procedure say they have experienced infections, bleeding and even paralysis.
“Mesh implants should be consigned to the history books and those manufacturers who potentially broke the law should be prosecuted.”
Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, said: “We are unable to discuss individual care without consent. If patients or relatives have concerns surrounding care or treatment, we would urge them to get in touch with us and contact our patient experience team.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Our condolences go to the family and friends of Eileen Baxter.
“The Scottish Government does not hold information on individual patients or their treatment, but we will give any information supplied to us on Ms Baxter’s case very careful consideration.”
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16694208.mesh-implants-were-listed-as-an-underlying-cause-in-the-death-of-eileen-baxter/
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