There are few people who will go through life without using 'health' products to cure or relieve symptoms of ill health. Whether they are prescribed by a doctor or not, the benefits of these products must be weighed up against the possible side-effects. With some products, the ill-effects experienced by users have been so great that the products have been taken off the market and public warnings issued. Unfortunately, this does not always occur in time and many people have suffered serious and sometimes permanent injury. These people may have a legal right to seek compensation from the manufacturer and anyone else involved in the design, testing, production and marketing of the product.

Most people harmed by health products will want money as compensation for personal injury and sometimes for economic losses such as lost wages and expenses. Additional remedies, such as alternative or remedial treatment, orders against future supply or treatment, withdrawal from use, prosecution, setting of safe standards, adequate warnings and modification of marketing methods may also be appropriate.