978-1285428710 Section 8 SECTION 8B

subject Type Homework Help
subject Pages 9
subject Words 4130
subject Authors Marianne M. Jennings

Unlock document.

This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
page-pf1
SECTION 8B – PRODUCT SAFETY
READING 8.5 – FROM SHUNNING TO ANONYMITY
Use PowerPoint Slides 299 - 303 to review the law on product liability.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. The standards have evolved from caveat emptor to caveat vendor. The liability rests with those who
2. The Nader years and activities were a response to ongoing issues and injuries with regard to
products that left buyers with no remedy. The result was a national movement that changed the eye
of the storm on product liability from consumers and caveat emptor to manufacturers and sellers. The
CASE 8.6 – PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA: SALMONELLA AND
INDICTED LEADERS
Use PowerPoint Slide 304.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. This could be a negligence case because the e-mails show the company was aware of the problem
but kept producing and selling products. It is strict tort liability to have salmonella in food; it does
happen, but there is still liability. However, negligence kicks in (and punitive damages) when there is
2. Yes, the e-mails would be admissible because they are company records and the corporation cannot
3. The defense his father is raising is that the decision to go ahead despite the findings of salmonella is
illogical. However, what his father does not understand is the very purpose of studying culture,
psychology, and pressure in conjunction with ethics. We know the correct answer – you shut down
the plant and neither make nor sell any product until you have an all-clear because the risk is high
CASE 8.7 – TYLENOL: THE SWING IN PRODUCT SAFETY
Use PowerPoint Slide 305.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
page-pf2
1. No, the shareholders' interests were examined for the long-term. In the short-term, the shareholders
had to accept a write-off that was substantial. But, as history has shown, the write-off helped restore
2. Most did continue with their capsule sales, assuming that the public wanted those sales. Again, the
3. Burke's decision was one for Tylenol's future. It was a difficult decision in terms of present costs but it
ensured that Tylenol could return to the market position it once held. The interests of consumers and
The decision to abandon the capsule makes Tylenol the odd market entry. Unfamiliarity can cause a
drop in the market share. In this case the caplet was the answer to consumer fears and the down
In this case, as in many others, taking care of the moral responsibility of producing a safe product,
was the same as ensuring long-term survival and earnings for the company. The balancing is not
difficult once a manager establishes that ethical choices are often the same as good financial or
marketing choices. Yes, the manufacturers should have made the decision to do the tamper-proof
4. There was an evolving cycle that moved quickly once the poisonings occurred. There was no turning
back at that point. The manufacturers perhaps should have anticipated the risk and acted voluntarily.
5. Use PowerPoint Slide 305 to show the differences.
In poisonings, recall was immediate. Johnson & Johnson went public. They worked with the
government. And, they honored their credo. In the latest quality control issue, the company tried to
6. With the 1982 cyanide case, Johnson & Johnson did follow its credo. However, its more recent
7. The information should just be disclosed. Perhaps it was hubris. Perhaps the company felt its stellar
Have the students discuss the following issues as they address the question of warnings:
a. Consumer trust
b. Company reputation
c. Physical harm to customers
page-pf3
8. Research does show that when a company is doing well is precisely when it will slip because it is
9. The company simply lost site of the importance of that brand and how it had been able to use that for
decades. Now competitors have moved in to take advantage of the situation because parents are
nervous and concerned. The decision to handle the quality control issues as they did was
CASE 8.8 – MERCK AND VIOXX
Use PowerPoint Slide 306 as a backdrop (evolving regulatory cycle) for discussing the case.
In gaining perspective on this case, review the following memo offered from a consultant on the situation
at Merck:
TO Merck Board
FROM Jennings
RE What Went Wrong With Vioxx and Necessary Changes in Merck Culture
DATE September 4, 2006
Based on a review of company records, FDA interactions, and discovery documents in the ongoing Vioxx
litigation as well as interviews with management and Merck employees, we offer the following insights
and recommendations for Merck. Both cultural characteristics and process issues contributed to the loss
of this important drug as a Merck product.
Candor
Our review indicates that there were several critical points in the Vioxx approval and sales periods when
candor suffered. For example, during the Phase 3 FDA process, Dr. Reicin’s e-mail expresses concerns
about negative findings, but also reflects a fear of sharing that information with management. The failure
of this information to percolate to managers and others responsible for FDA interaction resulted in a
less-than-candid report to the FDA. The board is aware of the consequences of this omission in terms of
regulatory relationships as well as ongoing investigations by several federal agencies. This lack of
candor continued when the Cleveland studies were released. There was no public disclosure of warnings
regarding the studies. In fact, the studies were used to promote Vioxx as “heart friendly.” The disclosures
on both the product and to physicians were minimal and did not reflect the rising body of evidence
accumulating regarding Vioxx and CVE. The safety committee withheld its initial findings as well. Finally,
the withdrawal of Dr. Cannuscio’s name from the Circulation article was not just a misstep in terms of
candor. This withdrawal had implications in terms of public perception as well as for Merck employees
and the company’s desire to understand issues and the expectations regarding candid discussions.
Decision Analysis
Hindsight does carry the benefit of clear and global views. However, there are some flaws in the Merck
decision processes that require change. Scientists who were examining the studies and data for Merck
were not in error in their conclusions about past experience or statistical insignificance. However, the
lessons of Vioxx, as with the lessons of other companies such as Johns-Manville and asbestos,
Jack-in-the-Box and e-coli, and McNeil and Tylenol (cases that will be used as examples in our
presentation) are that there is an extremely low tolerance for risk where human life is at issue. Joan
Wainwright’s response to the press on the 2004 minutes of the scientists’ meeting was, “Those
percentages are based on very small numbers of events.” She is correct, but perception is critical,
particularly in pharmaceutical cases. Merck scientists believe (and rightly so) that no drug can be made
risk-free. However, the issue is not one of making the drug risk-free, but is rather a more complex two-art
decision of what to disclose in terms of potential risks and when to disclose it. The marking points in
candor were also critical decision points at which time scientists, along with managers, should have
evaluated the costs and benefits of continuing with the status quo.
The flaw in the decision process appears to have rested with limited views of costs and risks and
overemphasis on benefits. Vioxx sales were $2.5 billion (representing 18% of net income and 11% of
revenue) and significant pressures perhaps created a dependence on achieving those numbers. Analysts
were increasingly negative about Merck because of a lack of a pipeline of drugs and perceived lack of
innovation. The immediate success, low margins, and high returns served to increase the pressure to
keep what was called Merck’s “big hit” going. However, those who decided to continue selling the drug
without additional warnings and disclosures failed to assess the risk when the information surfaced.
page-pf5
Suppressing studies, even internal ones, is simply not possible. This issue requires internal attention in
terms of training as well as policy manuals so that the Vioxx approval process is changed in both scientific
and management quarters of the company. Those involved did not seem to see the trend in information
and litigation – Vioxx positive information was not there; only negative results and a trend downward.
When the studies emerged, Merck faced not only the negative publicity but questions about the lack of
disclosure previously. The result has been increased litigation, two negative verdicts, and an estimated
cost for the suits of $10 billion. The gross revenue earned is less than what seems to be an accurate
assessment of the cost. Further, the costs of Vioxx development and approval cannot be recouped
because it is unlikely that the drug could be returned to the market, even for alternative uses.
Culture Issues
The issue of conflicts of interest emerged at least twice during the Vioxx developments. The outside
committee included independent experts who had served as consultants for Merck. While such
relationships are common in the industry, they do create perception and credibility problems for the safety
committee. The committee’s “wait and see” attitude is attributed, in hindsight, to those conflicts.
In addition, the situation with Dr. Cannuscio requires the development of a company policy on
involvement of Merck employees in outside studies. Whether they can participate and how the results will
be published should be resolved. The withdrawal of her name from the study with negative information
about Vioxx added to the public’s negative perceptions about the company’s actions with regard to Vioxx.
The decision process is surrounded by clear signals from the culture about short-term financial
performance with a resulting perception that management does not want to hear “bad news.” Employees,
such as Dr. Reicin, are left with conflicts between their personal values on candor and the demands of the
company regarding performance. The result is a perception of a lack of management openness to
concerns and discussion of issues. A type of tunnel vision invaded the decision process on Vioxx. Boxed
into “either I withhold and keep my job or tell the truth and lose my job,” employees opted for the former
without exploring alternatives, such as disclosure of CVE effects and warnings on limited use of the drug
to certain types of patients.
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. The issue in the cases was probably causation. The health problems of those taking Vioxx varied
and so there were different levels of culpability. The cause of heart attacks and other cardiovascular
2. Use PowerPoint Slide 307.
FAVORABLE
Merck had an excellent reputation
One of Fortune’s most admired companies
Philanthropic in giving drugs to other countries
UNFAVORABLE
Conflicts on the studies
Training with sales people
page-pf6
Questions from the FDA
Handling of initial suits
One of the things the company could have done is realize its reputation and not dabble in high levels
of risk with regard to a new drug. The company could have settled for $2 billion in sales to patients
without heart issues instead of the $3 billion it had that included those at risk. That is $1 billion, but
3. The other ethical issues were the conflicts with the researchers and their disclosure, the authorship
Compare & Contrast
The Merck Vioxx experience appears to have been a turning point for pharmas. They have learned that
the quicker they get the drug off the market, the less liability there will be. Post-Vioxx situations have
found the pharmas voluntarily recalling the drug at the first sign of negative stats and research, regardless
CASE 8.9 – FORD AND ITS PINTO AND GM AND ITS MALIBU: THE REPEATING
EXPLODING GAS TANK PROBLEM
Use PowerPoint Slides 308 - 317 to show the cost analysis for the redesign of the Pinto and a summary
of the Ford internal memo on the value of human life as used in Ford's evaluation as to whether to
redesign the Pinto.
Legal Issues
Under the new discovery rules, lawyers can no longer play a “cat and mouse” game of concealing
information from the other side. There is mandatory disclosure of all documents in the company related
to the subject matter of the litigation.
Answers and Key Discussion Items (Ford Pinto)
1. $18.66/unit.
2. Management's position was that the "fixes" would take too long. Ford needed a small car out on the
market to compete with the foreign car manufacturers. Further, the fixes were not worth the additional
Mr. Copp, was one who carried out orders, but did not have the ultimate decision-making authority
with respect to the Pinto. However, Mr. Copp did possess certain strengths by virtue of his position in
3. The issues Ford missed were the value of human life – outsiders tend to view product liability issues
with the benefit of hindsight and that any risk above and beyond the normal risk of driving a car is not
page-pf7
There was no violation of any safety standards or other laws. It was simply an ethical decision to
There was also tremendous demand at the time for small, fuel efficient cars. Ford was trying to
deliver the car as quickly as possible. But, using one of the Laura Nash questions, it is difficult to
4. All autos are dangerous and we all assume some risks. But, as was decided many years ago in the
5. This is a situation similar to LiCari’s with greater danger involved for the customers. Copp did not try
to build consensus on why waiting to release the Pinto and focusing on a redesign was important.
Compare & Contrast
Ford’s recall in 1996 was forthright, full disclosure, full repair – it managed the issue this time. They
offered follow-ups, too. The ad that Ford ran represents a complete turn-around from the days of the
Pinto. Ford’s ad sets out all the questions, concerns and background. There is a number for more
page-pf8
Answers and Key Discussion Items (Chevrolet (GM) Malibu)
1. The drunk driver perhaps did not have insurance or carry sufficient insurance and hence the litigation
against GM. There is also the issue that the drunk driver was not ultimately the cause of the severe
2. In this era particularly, it is nearly impossible to keep such memos and information quiet. With the
forward function of e-mail, it is impossible to control who has the information and how far that
3. The best course of action is to raise the issues in the memo in the context of a business decision.
Raise the issue by having the company look at the costs of changing the design vs. the eventual
The longer these memos are concealed from the public, the greater the financial damage for the
4. The GM managers focused on short-term results – they did not consider the long-term damage.
5. You cannot design a product that has a flaw, release it and then hope for the best. The best does not
happen. Any risk beyond what is expected and disclosed is too much risk and does come back to the
6. When Chrysler refused to settle, there was a great deal of backlash from customers and dealers
because there were emotional articles that appeared everywhere on the accidents. The press
CASE 8.10 – E. COLI , JACK-IN-THE-BOX, AND COOKING TEMPERATURES
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. Jack-in-the-Box did not follow the formula for handling corporate and national crises:
a. Be forthcoming with information;
b. Respond immediately;
c. Recall, recall, recall;
2. The change should have been made voluntarily and sooner as an ethical choice because of the
potential loss of human life and certainly illness and also because of the relatively low cost of
page-pf9
3. The misplacement of the memos tells us that compliance with the law was not systematic at
4. Jack-in-the-Box tried to make things right with those who were harmed. The praise from an
adversary indicates that the chain tried to do “the right thing.” Even those who were harmed felt
CASE 8.11 – BUCKYBALLS AND SAFETY
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. There was just no way to keep the instructions and warnings with the product and seemed to be no
2. This was the company’s business and product – without it, it could not exist.
3. There is the ethical posture that we are accountable for understanding risk and taking appropriate
steps for protection – that businesses cannot anticipate every possible misuse of a product and if they
CASE 8.12 – ENERGY DRINKS: HEALTHY OR RISKY?
Answers and Key Discussion Items
1. Yes, it is possible. Like Buckyballs, the world can live without them. It would not be difficult to
eliminate them. There is evolving concern, medical and hospital issues from both products, and
“noise” from media about whether they are safe. It is possible to keep the labels and warnings with
Revamping the content labels would be a way to solve the problem and move away from a possible
recall, ban, or demands for labels designed by someone else. It is a chance to take voluntary action that

Trusted by Thousands of
Students

Here are what students say about us.

Copyright ©2022 All rights reserved. | CoursePaper is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university.