Some patients received metal - on - metal hip implants , despite the fact that the company that made them issued safety warnings concerning the devices , according to documents published by the Daily Telegraph . In 1995 , a senior engineer at DePuy said the implants were vulnerable to " catastrophic " failure . The implant was cleared for sale by national regulators and “is backed by a strong track record of clinical data showing reduced pain and restored mobility for patients suffering from chronic hip pain”. They were first used in patients in the UK in 2002 . Over 20,000 patients ultimately received the implants , which some analysts believe can release toxic ions into the bloodstream . Doctors in Texas are currently suing DePuy .
Some patients received metal - on - metal hip implants , despite the fact that the company that made them issued safety warnings concerning the devices , according to documents published by the Daily Telegraph . In 1995 , a senior engineer at DePuy said the implants were vulnerable to " catastrophic " failure . They were first used in patients in the UK in 2002 . Over 20,000 patients ultimately received the implants , which some analysts believe can release toxic ions into the bloodstream . Doctors in Texas are currently suing DePuy .