On August 18, the AAO-HNS joined an amicus brief in support of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) rule intended to protect children from the dangers of ingesting small, high-powered magnets. Four other physician organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, and the American Pediatric Surgical Association, joined the brief as well.
The brief responds to a rule issued by the CPSC which limits the strength of small, easy to swallow magnets. By regulating their strength, these magnets will pose a significantly lower risk to children.
The petitioners have sued the Commission, arguing that these high-powered magnets do not pose a more significant risk to children than other small objects and that the Commission has over estimated both the incidences of magnet ingestion and the harms it causes.
The amicus brief argues in support of the Commission’s rule and makes three important arguments:
- There is clear and irrefutable evidence that high-powered magnet ingestion is a legitimate health care crisis and poses significant dangers to children.
- Given this evidence, the Commission was well within its authority to issue this mandatory safety standard.
- The petitioners have not provided sufficient counter evidence to refute the Commission’s findings on the necessity of this rule.
The AAO-HNS concurs with these arguments which are consistent with our long-standing position of protecting children from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of severe injury and death.
