Mr. Bradbury wrote that his retractions were not "intended to suggest in any way that the attorneys involved in the preparation of the opinions in question" violated any "applicable standards of professional responsibility".
David C. Vladeck, the director of the F.T.C.'s bureau of consumer protection, said in a statement that the commission believed "our settlements serve the public interest and meet any applicable standard of judicial review".
While no universally applicable standard values have been established for the ICC that represents adequate agreement, the following convention has been used in the previous literature: (1) ICC < 0.20 (slight agreement); (2) 0.21–0.40 (fair agreement); (3) 0.41–0.60 (moderate agreement); (4) 0.61–0.80 (substantial agreement); (5) >0.80 (almost perfect agreement) [ 30].
There are no universally applicable standard values for the ICC that represent adequate agreement, but the following convention is used here to aid interpretation: ICC <0.20 'slight agreement'; 0.21 0.40 'fair agreement'; 0.41 0.60 'moderate agreement'; 0.61 0.80 'substantial agreement'; >0.80 'almost perfect agreement'.
Generally applicable standards for birth centre care are not available and there is no evidence of their added value.
Most countries, nevertheless, have developed minimum applicable standards.
"This organization is in full compliance with applicable standards," the Joint Commission said.
Even where a direct contractual relationship exists, it can be difficult to ensure applicable standards are complied with.
Charles Perkins, an Ernst & Young spokesman, said the company's work for Lehman met "all applicable" standards.
"The CE mark isn't a product certification mark," Mr. Donaldson said, because no independent tests are required to get it; a manufacturer need only assert that the product meets applicable standards and take legal responsibility for saying so.
