Buying and Selling Equipment: Suitability, Safety and Fairness

MR MICHAEL MANDLESTAM MSc DipLib

One or two day workshop

Increasingly disabled and older people may consider purchasing daily living equipment for themselves, as consumers, with or without specialist advice from occupational therapists and other professionals.

There are a number of practical and legal issues arising as to suitability, safety, sound selling practices by retailers and manufacturers, terms and conditions of contracts and advertising and the circumstances in which retailers, manufacturers and other suppliers or advisers may incur legal liability (e.g. under negligence, contract or consumer protection law).

These issues are particularly important owing to the peculiar characteristics of the disability equipment market - such as the general lack of information and high-street visibility of the equipment, the complex needs of some people, the vulnerability of some people, a history of market-domination by the statutory sector as purchasers of equipment etc.

The seminar covers the practical implications of law such as the Consumer Protection Act 1987, General Product Safety Regulations 1994, negligence, Medical Devices Regulations 1992, Sale of Goods Act 1979, Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1994, Trade Descriptions Act 1968, Advertising Standards Authority etc.