Oral contraceptives and breach of warranty under the Uniform Commercial Code

This is a discussion of the issue as to whether a woman who either becomes pregnant while on pills or suffers side effects as a result of taking birth control pills has a breach of warranty cause of action under the Uniform Commercial Code. It is concluded that the woman has no cause for action against her doctor. In fact, it is unlikely that the woman will be able to support a claim of breach of warranty against anyone in the chain of supply, either the pharmaceutical company or the distributor. Previously decided cases offer no precedent as to when a breach of warranty can be found as a result of side effects produced by pills. Warnings which presently accompany oral contraceptives are insufficient. However, a woman claiming damages must prove that the side effects she suffered were directly caused from use of oral contraceptives. There is the assumption of risk issue, whether the woman assumes the risk by reading the information booklet and deciding to take the pills anyway. Revised warnings should certainly be included with pills.     

Bilingualism revisited: or the confessions of a middle-aged and belated francophile

Abstract. The efforts to functionally bilingualize the federal public service over the past decade have generally attracted more jeers than cheers. In this rather personal article the author attempts to describe and defend his own role and that of the Public Service Commission in a major attempt at adult re-education.     

Does management by objectives stifle organizational innovation in the public sector?

Abstract. Does management by objectives stifle organizational innovation in the public sector? The authors explore this possibility by describing five common characteristics of mbo and then contrasting them with four characteristics of innovative organizations. The comparison suggests that mbo -pressures lead to organizational stress that is often resolved by the creation of two working environments; one for the pursuit of innovative objectives, and one for the pursuit of regular objectives. This could lead to dysfunctionalism in the form of abandoned objectives-objectives that might have been achieved if mbo were not used. The authors conclude with four implications for public-sector managers: (1) the practice of including innovation objectives along with traditional objectives in the same set of objectives is questionable; (2) broader objectives, perhaps pointing in the general direction of the innovations sought, might be more productive in some cases than specific objectives; (3) possible incompatibility between mbo and innovation might be lessened if innovative ventures are pursued in ad hoc organizational structures; and (4) management by objectives and innovation are not necessarily compatible.     

Diversity as a policy goal: The case of television

Diversity in communications is most appropriately understood as a free flow of ideas. In order to implement diversity, a comprehensive model of the communication process must be used for policy research, so that the various participants in the process can be properly restrained from abridging the free flow of ideas. The setting of priorities for implementing diversity has been illustrated using available studies of broadcast and cable television.