Unsafe Products Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

1. Identifying the Individual victims of unsafe products

a) Big Tobacco

?On November 6, 2000 in the first smokers class-action suit to go to trial nationally, Judge Robert Kaye uphold the $145 billion damage award to three sick smokers, representing 300,000 to 700,000 sick Florida smokers or their families.

b) Firestone

?On October 2, 2000 the death toll in the Firestone- tire recall rose to 101, which will probably rise in months to come.

?Mabel and Rafael Valdes are just two of the hundreds to file lawsuits against Firestone because of tread separation of the wheels attached to the Ford Explorer. The lawsuit was filed against Firestone, stating the recall was “too late, because so many people have died, including my grandmother,” states Valdes.

c) Silicone Breast Implants

?About 1 million U.S. women have silicone-gel implants. In 1992 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered breast implants off the market because the manufacturers had not proven the product safe and effective.

?November 30, 1999 a federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan which would provide payments to 170,000 women who sued Dow Corning Corp. because of health problems related to silicone breast implants.

1. Who are the major Government Agencies

a) Department of Health and Human Services

?advises the President on health, and welfare.

b) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

?independent Federal regulatory agency, helps keep American families safe by reducing the risk of injury or death from consumer products

c) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

?assures the safety of foods and cosmetics, and the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, biological products and medical devices.

3.Research historic events involving unsafe products

a) Ford Pintod) Breast Implants

b) Dalkon Shielde) Big Tobacco

c) Firestone Tires

Methods

1. The process in which I conducted my research

a) Internet sites

-Consumer Product Safety Commission

-Safety Alerts

-Safety Forum News

b) Popular Newspapers

-New York Times

-Washington Post

-News Week

3. For historical Cases I made references to Corporate and Government Deviance

Data

1. Who are the claimsmakers involved with unsafe products

1) Big Tobacco

a) Food and Drug Administration(FDA)

b) Health insurers

2) Silicone Breast Implants

a) Food and Drug Administration(FDA)

b) Diana Zuckerman, of the National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families

1) Firestone Tires

a) National Highway Transportation Safety Administration(NHTSA)

b) Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC)

Personal Response

1) Section of the paper where I give my opinion on the following

a) the approach taken by claimsmakers to set standards throughout industries concerning unsafe products.