Dow Corning Case

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorUniversity, Bachelor's November 2001

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Dow Corning Case The Dow Corning case involves women who had silicone gel-filled breast implants, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1976, who were suffering from health related issues caused by the implants. Silicone gel-filled breast implants came on the market in the 1960's and in 1976 the FDA approved them due to their history of being safe. This however was overturned in 1988 making manufacturers of breast implants prove their safety before being approved.

December of 1990 found Dow Corning under fire from the CBS television show, Face to Face with Connie Chung. Ms. Chung proceeded to present women who have suffered from health related issues due to the breast implants. What was left out were the interviews from women and doctors who supported the implants. The public looks to the media to give accurate and unbiased information. When that information is delivered one-sided, the results can be chaotic, cause the public to question its validity and causes mistrust.

Not making light of the women who had legitimate illnesses due to the implants, I feel that Connie Chung and CBS were negligent to offer up both sides of the story. They had the pros and cons of the implants in their hands but opted to only the negative side of the implants. Actions such as this are a clear example as to why corporations and the public don't trust the media. The media puts a spin and/or doesn't provide both sides of a story which creates negative judgement about them.

In response to the show, I feel Dow Corning could have informed the public by using other media's such as newsprint, radio and other television networks. To be held back by CBS due to them having to open up "equal time considerations" (Seitel 164). By being...