Dutch women’s rights group appeals ruling against breast implant maker Allergan

The women’s rights organization Bureau Clara Wichmann is filing an appeal in the case against the American company Allergan, a manufacturer of breast implants. A court previously decided in December that the company could not be held liable for the health problems experienced by women following their implant procedures.

“This is not where it ends for us,” says Linde Bryk, who leads strategic litigation at Bureau Clara Wichmann. “Our fight continues for every woman impacted by these faulty implants, those who developed lymph node cancer or other long-term illnesses, and also those who choose to remove their implants as a precaution.”

The organization says it represents 60,000 Dutch women, some of whom developed autoimmune issues after receiving breast implants, while others were diagnosed with a rare type of lymph node cancer. The organization maintains that the implants are defective and that Allergan did not adequately warn patients about potential risks.

The court, however, ruled that there is not enough evidence linking the implants directly to autoimmune disorders. While it acknowledged a higher risk of lymph node cancer, it stated that the exact role of the implants is still uncertain. Allergan removed the implants from sale in 2018.

The organization described the court’s decision as “deeply disappointing.” Bryk emphasizes that the affected group includes everyday women who opted for implants for a wide range of reasons, including genetic risk, cancer treatment, cosmetic preferences, and gender affirmation.

“When these implants were taken off the market, Allergan did not offer any form of compensation, even though it generated substantial revenue for decades from selling a product that can cause serious health harm, without informing women about it,” Bryce added.