Defective Products Affecting Children

Greg Owen

Attorney

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It has come to the attention of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that hundreds of magnets have fallen out of various toys. Out of the hundreds of reported cases 33 of them involve a child who swallowed the magnets, which required emergency surgery. In fact, the death of a 20-month-old was also reported. All of the reported injures resulted in hospital stays, while the majority of cases involvied intestinal perforations.

Within the past year, the CPSC has conducted five recalls with more than eight million defective products containing magnets that could come loose and fall out of the product. It appears that the magnets can become trapped in the body rather than just passing through it. The magnets can twist the intestines causing holes, blockages, infections and/or blood poisoning.

In order to protect children new voluntary safety standards are being implemented. Additionally, the voluntary standards group will continue to consider additional requirements during the next year.