h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am Diabetic and I need give myself unsuline. the insuline pen I use is made for right handed people. I use up side down.

is a medical company responsible to make their products for left and right handed people?

I know less lefties than righties
...should they make extra cost to make for lefties?

another thing point is that a lot of diabetic have eye sight probelms.
...is that reason to make left and right usable?

you should know diabetes is one largest group chronical illnesses in the world and is still growing.

Absolutely. Being a leftie I have trouble with many things, even using a fountain pen without smudging is difficult. In the realms of medicine, something that is vital to a persons wellbeing should be easily usable and easily adaptable. If they don't make left handed insulin pens.... they ruddy well should!

Approximately one-in-four of the population (in the UK) is lefthanded. Most of them (like myself) are quite proud of the fact.

I firmly believe that ALL manufacturers should give more thought to the difficulties faced by the lefthanded (try filling in the counterfoil on a cheque-book with your left hand and you will see what I mean), but as to them being obliged to manufacture lefthanded items, well that's a rather broader issue.

I think we need a famous lefthander (like Prince Charles) to speak for us

Approximately one-in-four of the population (in the UK) is lefthanded. Most of them (like myself) are quite proud of the fact.

I firmly believe that ALL manufacturers should give more thought to the difficulties faced by the lefthanded (try filling in the counterfoil on a cheque-book with your left hand and you will see what I mean), but as to them being obliged to manufacture lefthanded items, well that's a rather broader issue.

I think we need a famous lefthander (like Prince Charles) to speak for us

There is no specific requirement for the manufacturer to address left/right handedness, however they should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the product is safe to use.

It sounds like it is difficult to use left handed maybe even hazardous, so the manufacturer runs the risk of being held liable in the event that a left handed person injures themselves, or worse.

If you can see a way to make it safe to use either left-handed or right-handed without the need for two different pens, then write to the manufacturer.

some thing to know

About 1.4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes. This number is set to double by 2010. Another million probably have the condition but don’t know it. source: Diabetes UK

Approximately 17 million people in the United States, or 6.2% of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 11.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 5.9 million people (or one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. source : American Diabetes Associations

one in four sounds high. The generally accepted number is closer to one in ten.

My Mum's Lefthanded. There are shops that do left handed products (medical products are of course a different more important issue)

I grew up as a right hander in a house with Left handed scissors - also tricky!

I know at least some of the Banks will issue left handed cheque books, might be worth asking

Definately worth kicking up a fuss re the insulin pen

done some addition reseach in how many diabetes

world wide is estimated that 151 million people have diabetes and it is increasing.

if 10% is left handed. you can see my conclussion!

www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/ is the shop. they have a section where you can highlight items that are high risk if not multi-handed. They may help you campain, or have further suggestions.

Re percentage, They state

"For years, it has been widely accepted that 1 in 10 people are left-handed. However, research studies of a reasonable size to back up this figure are very hard to find. Recently, small studies (usually among children) have come up with figures of between 12% and 15% of the population and it has been argued that perhaps this increase is due to social acceptability of left-handedness which has never before been the case.

It is widely believed that there are slightly more left-handed boys (11%) than girls (9%). Some research has linked left-handedness to the level of testosterone present in the womb before birth, which may explain the imbalance. Another suggestion, that girls tend to be more receptive to social mores and eager to conform, so may change to the hand of their peers, seems very unlikely, as we now know that handedness is not a matter of choice, but part of our physiological makeup. "

Yes, companies should definitely make their products for both left & right handed use. By going with only one or the other, they're excluding/shutting out a portion of their targetted consumers. And consequently, leaving that market niche to be filled, or monopolized by a more compassionate, understanding company, that recognizes & can fill the need for a slight variation of their product (to allow use by both left & right handed).

I have a lefty cheque book. Unlike the usual cheque books, it doesn't have paying in slips in the back... because "they" don't make lefty paying in slips. So I have to get a right handed paying in slip book. They missed the point, didn't they?

I think you are right pheloxi. Medical equipment should be suited for lefties, if it is a patient use product particuarly!

Did you ask the *company* if they had them for lefties?

Usually U do have to ask, to get anything that comes from a medical supplier made for lefties. You could make a *case* of it. If it could be an added health danger, then it needs to be made for lefties!

I asked, but the left handed market is too small and lefties use right hand to set the insuline pen and administer with left. I can not do that, because I am handicapt on my right hand. I have only 2 fingers.

this makes probable big exception, but I am still left handed.

Phfooie! Thats NOT right.
<disco.

+hears Abbi say Phfooie!

suddendly reminds himself he never hear Abbi speak

I never heard anything of the medical company

should I try third time?

http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk

This is the Medical Devices Agency for the UK. They are responsible for implementing/enforcing the Medical Devices Directive of the EU. If you believe that your insuline pen is unsafe to use, then you could refer the matter to them. I'm not sure but I believe they are obliged to investigate (it is part of the Dept of Health). They would then have to determine whether the pen complied with the Directive and any relevant standards.

This sounds like a long winded process, but believe me, it shouldn't take too long. The manufacturer is obliged to assist the MDA and if they run foul of the MDA face a stiff penalty, not least potentially having their product withdrawn.

Obviously there is no guarantee that they will find fault with the manufacturer, but on the other hand, if they could have made the pen usable with one hand, who knows ....

Good luck

thank you

I am not in UK. I am in the Netherlands. that is good idea!

Each member state has their own agency responsible for enforcing EU directives. I guess that it will be some similar section in your own health department.