Defective & Dangerous Products

• Big Tobacco Better Exhale

  Staff Writer | August 22, 2006 10:29 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  A US District Judge ruled yesterday that big tobacco companies conspired for years to hide the deadly effects of cigarette smoke from the public. This isn't suprising to most of us who've followed these battles. However, it will most likely lead to a groundswell of lawsuits against big tobacco. For decades now, the tobacco marketing strategy has focused on youth and many have suffered the...

• Taser Will Settle Lawsuits

  Joe Saunders | August 10, 2006 8:52 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  After initially fighting each individual lawsuit, Taser International has decided to settle claims against the company for a reported $20 million. The company also agreed to appoint a lead independent director as part of the settlement.

• Clinical Prof. Noticed Problems with ReNu Two Years Ago

  Joe Saunders | July 28, 2006 10:04 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  Christine Sindt, a University of Iowa clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology noticed a disturbing problem with ReNu contact lens solution after doing her own study of the product. "I always like to test the new products - test drive them, so I can develop an opinion," Sindt said.Contact lenses sat soaked in three different solutions overnight. The following day, Sindt examined five...

• More Problems for Bausch & Lomb

  Joe Saunders | July 26, 2006 9:30 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  According to a report published today in the Wall St. Journal, there were reports nine years ago suggesting that multipurpose solutions might pose certain health risks. This comes after Bausch & Lomb tried to minimize the fusarium keratitis scare by stating such a fungus only grew in "unique circumstances".

• Guidant Wrote Warning Letter it Never Sent

  Joe Saunders | June 08, 2006 8:26 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  In a letter dated January 2005, Guidant Corp. executives were prepared to warn doctors of potential flaws in their heart device product. However, the letter was never sent because these same officials were concerned about the potential consequences and backlash from sending such a letter. Guidant stated that two company models had an electrical flaw. It also told physicians that it had pulled...

• EPA Scientists in Revolt Over Agency's Handling of Dangerous Pesticides(2)

  Joe Saunders | June 02, 2006 10:08 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  In an extraordinary dissent from EPA management, 9,000 EPA scientists and employees are in open revolt over what they see as EPA's cozy relationship with the pesticide industry. In a letter to Stephen Johnson, EPA's administrator, the union leaders said scientists are being pushed to skip steps in their testing, and alleged that the 'integrity of the science upon which agency decisions are...

• Canadian Cop Forced to Apologize for Taser Use

  Joe Saunders | June 01, 2006 8:04 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  A Canadian police officer has been ordered to apologize to a man he assaulted with a taser in a jail cell.The apology forms part of the conditional discharge handed to Corporal Brendan McKenna after he pleaded guilty to assault. He will escape jail time and a criminal record, but will be on probation for 12 months and must do 100 hours of community service.

• If You're Going to Get Tasered, Snort Some Coke First

  Joe Saunders | May 30, 2006 10:17 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  The title to this post is no joke. I found this on the Motley Fool website. Taser International has issued the following statement: "TASER International, Inc. ... announced today that ... a standard electrical discharge from a TASER brand device does not induce ventricular fibrillation, and that cocaine intoxication increases the safety margin even further." Maybe Taser's PR department...

• In Public Relations World It's Botch & Lomb

  Joe Saunders | May 23, 2006 8:18 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  There's an interesting article published in Advertising Ageabout how Bausch & Lomb botched the crisis surrounding its $500 million contact lens solution products market. In spite of a public relations blitz in which the company took out full page advertisements in 12 major daily newspapers, Bausch & Lomb was slow to react to the public health problems surrounding its products. Because of their...

• U of Pitt Med Center Doc Finds Fusarium in Bausch & Lomb Product

  Joe Saunders | May 19, 2006 2:05 PM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  As part of the CDC's investigation of Bausch & Lomb's eye contact solution ReNu with MoistureLoc, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center doctor was able to grow the fusarium keratitis fungus from the contact lens solution. Dr. Deepinder Dhaliwal, the Director of Refractive Surgery at UPMC found the dangerous fungus within the contact lens solution and gave her results to the CDC.