It’s a tough choice when patients are already very sick. Medical devices sometimes offer the promise of extended life, but they can themselves be risky – or outright defective or unreasonably dangerous. Patients should always be given full information about the...
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Defective Products
Pickups are getting bigger all the time – and that affects safety
Consumers demand ever-bigger pickup trucks to help them “conquer the road.” It’s a cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that the larger these vehicles get, the larger the blind spot they have in the front. Children and shorter adults can be in...
Are Tesla’s self-driving systems dangerous and defective?
It sounds like a futuristic dream: a fully self-driving car. No more need for human navigation, which could mean an end to crashes caused by driver error, inattention or impairment. Wanting to take a nap or read a book instead of driving? Turn on the autopilot....
UPDATE: Peloton recalls its treadmills after child death, injuries
Late last month, we discussed an urgent warning issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that Peloton’s Tread+ treadmill could pull in and entrap children and pets. The agency had received at least 39 complaints of objects, pets or children being pulled...
CPSC: Peloton Tread+ can pull children, pets under the treadmill
Sales of Peloton equipment, including both stationary bikes and treadmills, have taken off during the pandemic. According to the Associated Press, New York-based Peloton Interactive, Inc., brought in $1 billion in revenue during the final three months of 2020 – more...
Study: DDT exposure affects granddaughters’ breast cancer risk
The insecticide DDT was developed in the 1940s to fight insect-borne diseases such as typhus and malaria. In 1972, the United States banned DDT. It is known to be an endocrine disrupter, meaning that it interferes with hormones and development. Although it was banned,...
Furniture tip-overs are still killing kids; anchors aren’t enough
Let’s be clear: if you buy a set of bookshelves or a substantial piece of furniture, consider installing wall anchors to the furniture. Wall anchors can help prevent heavy furniture from falling over onto young kids, which can be deadly. The problem is that anchoring...
Are booster seats safe? Investigations say testing was faulty
In February 2020, the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica published an investigation into whether Evenflo, a major manufacturer of child booster seats for cars, had falsely claimed that its products were safety tested. ProPublica found that Evenflo’s “Big Kid Booster” seat...
Report: Diabetes testing devices can fail, causing injury or death
Insulin pumps, blood glucose monitors and even diabetic testing strips can fail, causing inaccurate readings or even delivering the wrong amount of insulin. When they do, the results can be tragic. According to an investigation by Consumer Reports, diabetes devices...
NHTSA: Repair your vehicle’s safety recalls now
Every year, there are hundreds of safety recalls involving motor vehicles. Yet many people never make the required repairs, even though they are free. They may not know their vehicles are subject to recalls because the auto maker's communication was insufficient. They...