There is currently a major issue in Denmark concerning the metal artificial hips manufactured by the Depuy company. These hips have now been recalled by the company as they have proven to be harmful to patients. 600 Danish patients have received hip implants.

 

Investigations into the case have revealed that doctors in the United Kingdom, amongst other countries, had been warning of the harmful side effects of these hips for a number of years before they were recalled. It has also emerged that a number of Danish doctors received trips and other perks paid for by Depuy.

 

Will the forthcoming proposal on the revision of the Medical Devices Directive seek to:

 

1.    improve the surveillance system so that alerts about medical devices issued by one Member State are communicated to all other Member States and investigated by the Commission?

2.    prevent/prohibit doctors from receiving trips and other perks from medical devices companies so that patients can be confident that the sole criterion for choosing a device/implant is what is best for the patient and not what is economically beneficial to the doctor?

Associated media

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