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The Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Controversies
Abstract
The case gives an overview of the problems faced by J&J because of Tylenol. Tylenol was the first acetaminophen-based analgesic to be sold as an OTC drug. The product was promoted aggressively and had become a leader within a few years. In 1982, it was found that Tylenol capsules were laced with Cyanide. This resulted in the death of many people. However, with the company's proactive and effective public relations program, Tylenol regained its market share within six months. J&J again faced problems when people died due to overdoses of Tylenol. This was mainly because the public as well as the medical practitioners were not well informed about the product's side-effects. |
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Issuess
The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:
- Ethical issues involved in the overdose controversy and discuss the right approach to resolving the crisis in right, proper and just way
| Contents |
| Tylenol Deaths |
| Background Note |
| The Fall and Rise of Tylenol |
| The Tylenol Overdose Controversy |
| Making the Public Aware of Risks |
| Exhibits |
Keywords
Johnson & Johnson,analgesic,overdose,kidney problems,Pain Killers, gastrointestinal ulcers,bleeding ,Joseph Lister,Robert Wood Johnson,TENS,J&J, Tylenol, acetaminophen-based analgesic, OTC drug,leader,1982, Cyanide, six months, Tylenol, medical practitioners, side-effects, bad publicity, millions, dollars, legal settlements,1997, FDA labeling rules