Unhealty, (Un)Lawful?: A Multidimensional Study of Legal but Potentially Lethal Products and Services

Abstract

Products and services like mobile phones, tasty manufactured food and tobacco have enriched today’s life and brought us happiness and prosperity. However, the moment these products were introduced to the market, we did not know or were not aware of the risks the new products and services embodied. We know now that mobile phones may be health-threatening, tasty manufactured food under some circumstances is health threatening and smoking kills. Those three products illustrate a serious global societal problem, which is the legitimate offer of products and services that are potentially lethal. On a yearly basis, legal but lethal products and services greatly damage society in various ways. Not only do the costs of healthcare rise as victims call on healthcare, it also causes a loss of social economic potential. Although offering the products and services on the market is legal, the role of the law remains important to take action to help to prevent avoidable harm and to facilitate a safe environment.