All businesses are required by law to meet their legal responsibilities. A business must become familiar with the outside influences that govern the industry in order to function well. No business can be profitable without its customers, they are just as important, if not more, than the employees. It is the customers who bring success to these companies while giving them determination. Not all customers are contributors, some are rude, possessive and some are just trying to take over businesses. “Businesses have a role to play in improving the lives of all their customers, employees and shareholders by sharing with them the wealth they have created” (Bateman & Stair, 2006, p. 175). Consumer protection laws are put in place to regulate proprietary relationships between individual consumers and businesses that sell goods and services. They aim to safeguard consumer rights as well as reasonable commercial competition. The government normally requires companies to disclose detailed information about their products, including welfare and public health information. There was a case involving an all-metal hip implant from Johnson & Johnson. That case involved a 65-year-old former prison guard claiming he suffered metal poisoning from the devices. Industrial implants from Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Orthopedic division were recalled in 2010 due to design defects. These implants were said to release toxic metal debris into patients' bodies. The devices feature a ball and cup coated with cobalt and chrome, but have been advertised as being more durable than plastic and ceramic. The plaintiffs claimed the two rubbed against each other and produced this toxic debris. It was said that about 5 out of 10 needed to be replaced...... middle of paper...... if there was a possibility that the damage would exceed the cost of taking safety measures, then the The company should take them, whereas if the cost was responsible. This is a legal decision but not an ethical one, because people's lives are at stake. There are many reasons why strictly profitable theories should not be used. People's lives should not be put at stake just because the price is too high and this high risk could be reduced. There's a lot at stake for Ford on this. Their reputation is at stake due to the backlash and legal action they face. It is well established thanks to the available case law. This motivates businesses to take precautionary measures against risks that result in huge expenses. You would think that things should have had some mutual relationship. And last but not least, gives businesses something they can take advantage of..