My life is a personal example of limited accountability by big business.
The manufacturers that marketed silicon gel breast implants knew of the risks
but continued to market the product. I was assured there were no risks;
however, or I never would have submitted to the procedure.
Today, due to health problems caused by the implants, I no longer work, play
tennis, socialize, attend church, sing in the choir, take my children on
outings, go shopping. I have a college degree in Management Information
Systems and paid for my education by running my own business. My friends
from college are now making $60,000 and up in the field I was trained for.
But today I cannot work because I suffer from severe fatigue, migraine
headaches, tremors, rashes, ringing in the ear which causes sleep
disturbances, balance problems, painful joints and numbness, decreased
blood flow. tingling of extremities, memory loss and cognitive disfunction.
Because the company that made great profits marketing a defective product
declared bankruptcy to avoid responsibility,
I will not be able to receive any compensation for the harm their product
caused. California Joint & Several Liability Limit Places Burden On Me
and Taxpayers California law restricts joint and several liability, now
proposed for the nation, by artificially portioning degrees of harm committed
by wrong-doers, without any concern for compensating victims of dangerous
products like myself. Dow is also liable in my case because they supplied
the gel. But under the limits of California law, I can not collect my full
damages from them, although they are a most profitable company. Instead, I
have been forced onto taxpayer-funded public assistance programs. Taxpayers
should not have to subsidize corporate negligence and I should not have to
endure what I have had to.
I have been denied medical insurance due to a "history of breast
implants" and "removal of breast implants." As a single parent,
I am now forced to seek public assistance -- Medi-cal (Medi-caid). My 5 year
old son has expressed fear to his teachers about my dying. He knows other
mommies don't have to lay down as much or look so "old" and
"tired" as his. My children cannot go to Disneyland or other outings
that are nearby because my energy just won't hold out. I have always paid my
bills and have good credit. Now, after two surgeries and countless medical
bills in the past year, I am facing bankruptcy.
All due to harms caused by corporate negligence for which I cannot be
compensated because of restrictive state laws, which the United States Senate
will soon vote on for the nation. Are senators, such as Senator Feinstein,
elected to represent voters like me, or wealthy corporations who have
contributed to their campaigns? Please remember me when you vote on S.565.
On April 6, 1995, Consumers for Quality Care announced it would release daily
to the White House, each of the 100 Senators, and the media the story of
another consumer who is victimized by medical negligence or maimed by a
defective product and denied justice under proposed, federal tort restrictions
championed by cash-rich special interests in the United States Senate.
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