The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC) announced today that a free replacement program has begun for the “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings, manufactured by Infantino LLC, of San Diego, California.  One million slings are being recalled in the United States and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada, in a cooperative effort with the manufacturer.

The CPSC has called for consumers to immediately stop using these slings for infants younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation.  The recall is announced following reports of three infant deaths that occurred in these slings last year involving 7-week-old infant, a 6-day-old infant and a 3-month-old infant.

The two slings involved in the recall are both soft fabric baby carriers with a strap which allows the parent or caregiver to have the baby lying against their chest.  The “SlingRider” model has “Infantino” is printed on the plastic slider located on the strap.  The “Wendy Bellissimo” carriers were sold only at Babies “R” Us and have a sewn-in label on the inside of the sling strap that says in part “Wendy Bellissimo Media, Inc.”

Consumers can contact Infantino toll-free at (866) 860-1361 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site to receive a free replacement product.

Suppose that when a product malfunctions it was acceptable for the manufacturer to pay “experts”, recognized and notable professionals; to write articles, opinion letters, and studies, that spoke of the product’s safety. Articles that dispelled any notion that the product was really what was causing the problem.

Suppose that each of these “experts” was paid for their literary contributions, but did not disclose the payment.

Does not happen? Experienced, reputable “experts” would never agree to such a charade?

Unfortunately, it happens all the time.

I have been dealing with experts for many years and have often heard the trap of, “well, she teaches at ___________ School, she must know what she is talking about” or “he did clinical research at _______________ institution, he is certainly an expert”. These are constant traps people fall into. Where an expert teaches or was educated is a very small part of what does or does not make them an expert.

Experts are human. Experts can be influenced by money; by self interest, and by a really good “snow job” from a manufacturer.

This topic has once again raised its ugly head through discoveries made about the drug, Avandia. The Mayo Clinic did a retrospective study, in which they determined that many “experts” forgot to disclose financial ties they had with the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline.

Avandia is suspected of causing fluid retention, congestive heart failure, and heart attacks in diabetic patients.

It seems a good time for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry to adopt strict guidelines relating to disclosures of possibly prejudicing financial or other interests, which “experts” may have in connection with products or drugs.

If the industry will not do it voluntarily, perhaps it is overdue for the Food & Drug Administration to compel them.