The Continuing Search for Proper Perspective: Whose Reasonableness Should be at Issue in a Prescription Product Design Defect Analysis?

Abstract:     
This article addresses standards for analyzing alleged design defects in prescription products. It contrasts the Restatement of Torts (Third): Products Liability’s approach -- no design liability attaches if a reasonable healthcare provider would prescribe the product to any class of patients -- with a reasonable manufacturer approach.
The article reviews judicial decisions addressing prescription product design liability, and concludes that the case law supports a reasonable manufacturer approach over the Restatement (Third)’s approach. The article argues that in most instances both approaches will lead to the same result, and that design liability will be rare under either approach, but that the reasonable manufacturer test is superior to the Restatement (Third)’s reasonable healthcare test.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 25

Keywords: tort, Restatement, products liability, prescription, drug, medication, pharmaceutical, design defect, reasonable, manufacturer, healthcare

Accepted Paper Series