Health authorities across the globe have failed to protect patients from poorly tested implants that can sicken, maim and sometimes kill the people they were designed to help.
Those allegations come from a new global investigation undertaken by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Named " The Implant Files, " the investigation identifies how some devices including pacemakers, rods to correct spines and artificial hips and knees are causing more damage to patients than repair.
In some cases implants that cracked inside people's backs and implants that failed when tested in baboon tests, came onto the market.
The ICIJ partnered with 58 media organisations from around the world to uncover "a system dogged by poor regulations, lax rules on testing and a lack of transparency," it said.
The report found cases of misfiring implantable defibrillators, mesh implants for incontinence that caused abdominal pain and birth control implants that caused internal damage and bleeding.
It also revealed that doctors can be left in the dark about the true risk of treatments they are recommending to their patients.
SHARE ME