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Deaf
protesters storm complex
Deaf
protesters stormed the roof of Manchester's GMEX
complex this week in a three-day demonstration
against hearing implants.
Draped
with banners declaring Better Deaf Than Dead the
campaigners were targetting a conference of 800
medical experts from around the world meeting
to discuss cochlear (inner ear) implants at Manchester
International Convention Centre.
Camping
out in tents and climbing onto the roof, the Deaf
Liberation Front (DLF) protestors were highlighting
suspected cases of meningitis caused by the devices.
According
to the campaigners, several people have died from
meningitis after receiving cochlear implants,
including seven people in England.
Cochlear
implants help profoundly deaf people to perceive
sound. They use special technology to bypass the
damaged cochlear and stimulate nerve fibres.
Dr Paddy
Ladd of the centre for deaf studies at Bristol
University, said that there has been a "sinister"
cover up of meningitis risks because implants
make billions of pounds for doctors and researchers.
"I
am not a member of the DLF but, as with the rest
of the worldwide deaf community, I am highly concerned
about the artificially generated hype regarding
cochlear implants and the determination to prevent
independent research," he said. "Deaf
children died who did not need to die and parents
are guilt-stricken who should not be feeling that
way.
"Companies
are rushing to experiment with implants on children
who are unable to give consent. In their rush
they are consciously and willingly destroying
the residual hearing that the child has. Profit
is one reason certainly."
However,
Shaheed Saeed of the cochlear implant programme
at Manchester Royal Infirmary said the conference
had been an overwhelming success with over 250
scientific papers presented.
The
implant ream at MRI has performed more than 500
implant operations and has never had a case of
meningitis.
"We
think cochlear implants are one of the great medical
success stories of the past two decades. "During
the conference ample evidence was presented on
the benefits of to adults and children in terms
of speech and language. "However, we take
the protesters concerns seriously and follow a
meningitis vaccination programme at MRI."
by Helen Tither
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