Mesh implant warning af ter death of gran, 75
MESH implants should be banned after being linked to the death of a grandmother, the Scottish Government was warned yesterday.
Eileen Baxter, 75, died last month after years of ill health following a mesh implant operation.
Her son Mark said she died of multiple organ failure, with the mesh implant listed on her death certificate as an underlying cause.
It is thought to be the first time in Scotland where the device has been named as a cause of death.
Mr Baxter, 52, said: ‘I’m really angry my mother is not still here.
‘They they didn’t seem to care about her. She ended up with masses of problems.
‘She was feeling unwell in July and was taken to the hospital. They advised her to speak to a counsellor to get advice on how to manage pain and they sent her away. 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 is lost, he’s completely devastated because they were so close.’
Mr Baxter said the mother of two and great-grandmother, from Loanhead, Midlothian, had mesh surgery five years ago to fix a pelvic organ prolapse.
She died on August 27 after being admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh the previous week with internal bleeding, sickness and diarrhoea. He said the death certificate said the device led to chronic pelvic inflammation and possible sepsis, causing internal damage and leading to multiple organ failure.
More than 20,000 women in Scotland have had the implants over the past 20 years but some have suffered painful, debilitating complications.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: ‘The minister must now immediately ban mesh implants.’
The Scottish Government recommended suspension of mesh implants – not a total ban. It is believed more than 400 women have undergone repeated operations in an attempt to resolve problems.
The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaigner Elaine Holmes said: What concerns me is the possible sepsis – this woman suffered terribly.’
Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘If we are supplied with information on Mrs Baxter’s case, we will consider whether any further review or inquiry is required.’