A fundraiser to support the costs of medical-legal assessments of women who suffered serious side effects after the implantation of the Essure spiral. Thus Altroconsumo, with the ‘Not on my skin’ campaign, takes the field in favor of women’s rights and dignity. Through this exemplary case – explains a note – the institution also intends to draw attention to the condition of non-listening for those who report problems relating to women’s health and who often see the words with which they testify to their problems ignored or ‘erased’. own physical and emotional suffering.
With this objective, the women who work at Altroconsumo have decided not only to ‘put their faces on it’, but to lend their bodies to talk about the physical and emotional suffering that those involved in the affair had to face. For the creation of the campaign, therefore, some notably impactful sentences were written on their bodies, taken from the testimonies of the protagonists: symptoms, emotions, damage experienced on their skin due to the use of the device. The light shines on the words of the victims – the same ones who have often been belittled or unheard – so that it is no longer possible to ignore them and so that events like this are no longer written on the skin of other women.
The lawyers of Altroconsumo have followed approximately 150 Italian women among the numerous who have reported side effects following the Essure implant and are assisting pro bono the 18 of them currently involved in the civil case brought in the court of Milan. To ensure that they can obtain justice and proceed with the case, the organization has therefore started the crowdfunding campaign with the aim of helping them to face the huge legal costs: 70 thousand euros are in fact needed to cover the costs of investigating the collective civil case and the party technical consultancy (medical reports) recently admitted to the hearing. altroconsumo, which has already made a first donation of 10 thousand euros, invites everyone to participate in this collective action with a donation which means taking a stand to protect the right to health of these women and, simultaneously occurring – he specifies – of everyone. The entire proceeds of the collection will be used to pay the legal costs and donated to the Resist Italia Odv association,which will manage the funds in the exclusive interest of the women who have chosen to bring the legal case.
The Essure case – recalls Altroconsumo – began over 20 years ago and involved thousands of women all over the world. An outpatient choice to tubal ligation surgery, the permanent contraceptive device patented by Conceptus Inc., later acquired and marketed by Bayer, was authorized in the United States and Europe in 2002 and was proposed as safe, with no margin of risk for over a decade. Over 1 million devices have been sold worldwide; 7 thousand in Italy, fully reimbursed by the National Health Service between 2004 and 2017, when Bayer suspended its distribution on the grounds of a decline in sales.
After a few years of marketing the device, presented as harmless and free of contraindications, cases of even serious health problems began to be recorded following the implant: chronic fatigue, dizziness, fainting, abdominal pain, joint pain and muscles, tooth loss, vision loss and, again, depression, temporomandibular symptoms, organ perforation. These are some of the problems reported by thousands of women who found themselves online, connecting the ailments they suffered from and giving life to an enormous international community. Placed under observation by various national safety agencies, from the American FDA to the French Ansm to the Italian Aifa due to the growing reports in various countries around the world, Essure was then withdrawn from the market in 2017. In the meantime, Bayer, only in USA, received several thousand lawsuits which led to a maxi-settlement: the multinational has committed to paying “around 1 billion and 600 million dollars” to close “at least 90% of the lawsuits pending”.
The campaign will remain open until the objective is achieved, developing in parallel with the cause, and will consist of various awareness-raising actions on the topic. To join, Altroconsumo.it/nonsullamiapelle.
How can public awareness campaigns improve teh perception and treatment of women’s health issues?
Interview: The Fight for Women’s Health Rights
Setting: A well-lit studio filled with bookshelves and comfortable seating. The Time.news editor sits across from dr. Angela Rossi, an expert in women’s health and policy advocacy.
Editor: Welcome, Dr. Rossi! It’s a pleasure to have you here today.
Dr. Rossi: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss such an critically important issue.
Editor: we’ve recently seen the launch of the ‘Not on my skin’ campaign by altroconsumo, aimed at raising awareness about the serious side effects from the Essure spiral.Can you tell us why this campaign is so vital?
Dr. Rossi: Absolutely. This campaign is crucial because it highlights a major gap in women’s healthcare—specifically, how women’s voices and experiences are often overlooked or dismissed. The Essure case represents not just a medical failure, but a systemic issue in how we address women’s health concerns.
Editor: It’s disturbing to think that women’s testimonies about their suffering can be ignored. What are some of the common experiences these women face when they report side effects?
Dr. Rossi: Women often report a range of debilitating physical and emotional symptoms, such as chronic pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Frustratingly, many of these women feel their concerns are minimized or not taken seriously by healthcare providers. This leads to them feeling isolated and invalidated,which is detrimental to their mental and emotional well-being.
Editor: The campaign seems to take a bold approach by having women literally “put their bodies on the line.” How do you think this physical representation impacts the conversation around women’s health rights?
Dr. Rossi: It has a powerful impact. By using their bodies as a canvas for their testimonies, these women are making their suffering visible in a way that demands attention. It’s a profound act of vulnerability that resonates with others who share similar experiences. this can help break down barriers of stigma and silence, fostering a community of support and advocacy.
Editor: That’s a brave step forward. What can society do to better support women like those affected by Essure?
dr. Rossi: First and foremost, we need to create an environment where women feel safe to speak about their experiences without fear of being dismissed. Education for healthcare professionals is vital; they need to be equipped to take women’s health complaints seriously. Additionally, support groups and legal advocacy can empower women to share their stories and seek justice for the harm they’ve suffered.
Editor: Speaking of justice, the fundraising aspect of the campaign aims to support medical-legal assessments.How important is this support for affected women?
Dr. Rossi: It’s critically important. Medical-legal assessments can provide women with the documentation they need to validate their experiences and navigate the legal system effectively. It’s a way to hold accountable those who may not have acted in the best interest of these women, and it can bring much-needed relief and potential compensation to those who have suffered notable harm.
Editor: What message do you hope this campaign sends to both women facing similar issues and to society at large?
Dr. Rossi: I hope it conveys that women’s health matters, and their stories deserve to be heard and respected. We need to foster a culture of listening and action that prioritizes women’s rights and dignity in all aspects of healthcare. No one should suffer in silence, and together, we can advocate for change and accountability.
Editor: Thank you,Dr. Rossi, for sharing your insights. the ‘Not on my skin’ campaign is certainly a courageous step toward justice and healing.
Dr. rossi: Thank you for having me and for shining a light on such an important issue.
Editor: And to our viewers, remember to support initiatives like this one and continue the conversation on women’s health rights. Together, we can make a difference!
