Nature Abhors a Vacuum: Why Corporations Have a Social Responsibility to Warn Consumers of Potential Risks

When was the last time a press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission made the front page? The last time you remember reading Safety Communication directly from the US Food & Drug Administration? While the Internet has provided dozens of platforms for users to share information, the challenge will always be getting the right information to the right people at the right time.

The following are excerpts are from a press release from the American Cancer Society dated July 7, 1999:

“The American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), among others are recommending that women use cornstarch powders, rather than talcum powders, in the genital area.

“Joseph Imperato, M.D., president of the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society, confirming this position, states: ‘The American Cancer Society currently recommends that women who wish to use powder use a cornstarch-based powder and avoid talc powders at this time.’

In its literature, NOCC states: ‘Until more research is conducted, it is prudent to avoid using talc powder in the genital region. There are a number of cornstarch-based powders on the market, however, which offer women a safe alternative.’

When asked why cornstarch is safer to use than talc, Dr. Whysner says, ‘Cornstarch is the way that the corn plant stores energy. It’s also the starch that is used in food products, and the body can digest cornstarch. Talc, on the other hand, is a mineral. It’s mined from the earth, and the body has a difficult time removing it.’”

These statements are clear, easy to understand, and came over a decade before the first talc lawsuit was heard in court. Unfortunately, press releases like this are not generally considered newsworthy. In hindsight, this information could have shaved off a decade of talc use. Drug Safety News recently reported, “According to data published in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, the sole elimination of talc use may avert at least one-quarter of ovarian cancer cases.”

The cost of inaction

Johnson & Johnson had the ability for years to join public health agencies in educating consumers about a possible risk that would have enabled those consumers to make an informed decision. Instead, press releases like the one above were relegated to the dark recesses of news outlets. Without the voice and reach of a multi-billion dollar corporation, a life-saving message went un-communicated for years at immeasurable cost. The cost of doing business at the any level is simple: respect for your customers. When corporations forget that, families suffer.

If your family member has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after extended talc use, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced South Carolina defective product attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Call 803-327-7800 or contact us today for a free consultation.