Liability concerns in contraceptive research and development

The history of liability claims in the US against contraceptive products is among the issues that discourage manufacturers from investing in discovery and development in this field. Other factors are the high cost of new drug development, elevated insurance rates for contraceptives, and the desire t o avoid controversy that can disturb corporate tranquility. General feature s of the American legal system influence the large number and cost of produ ct liability claims in the US compared to Europe. These differences pertain to issues such as the role of judges, how lawyers receive their compensati on, and the use of expert scientific testimony. The history of litigation i n the US against pharmaceutical products and devices pertaining to women's health suggests that interventions that involve the reproductive system are held to different standards or elicit different emotional responses than o ther pharmaceutical products or devices. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.