Should a product sold for nearly 30 years to millions of satisfied customers be abruptly taken off the market? That was the question before an advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration last week as it held hearings on the emotionally charged issue of the safety of silicone breast implants.
The testimony was impassioned on both sides. Implant manufacturers brought out reams of safety-test data, claiming their products were essentially harmless. Some users spoke of gaining self-esteem by reshaping their bodies, and of a psychological boost in battles against breast cancer. But others told stories of pain from internal scar...
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