The Dow Corning Corporation said yesterday that it might file for bankruptcy to work its way out of a morass created by breast implant litigation.

Kermit Campbell, group vice president for the Dow Corning Corporation, called the action "helpful to the women who really need access" to implants.

Undisputed world leader in silicones is Dow Corning Corporation of America.

The vast amount of litigation was so overwhelming to the major implant manufacturer, Dow Corning Corporation, that it declared bankruptcy.

The Dow Corning Corporation, a major manufacturer of the implants, expressed confidence it could provide evidence to prove their safety.

The Dow Corning Corporation still insists that the breast implants it has provided for 600,000 women pose no unreasonable health risk.

But the Dow Corning Corporation, which was not part of the agreement, could end up even worse, the possible victim of its own miscalculations.

The Dow Corning Corporation announced the proposal, surprising other parties to the discussion.

(Last week, the Dow Corning Corporation agreed to pay $3.2 billion to settle some of the lawsuits.)

His father is the chairman and a former chief executive of the Dow Corning Corporation in Midland.