Certain medical devices companies have been “reprocessing” medical equipment designed for single use, claiming that there is no evidence that such devices are less safe than new ones. (Medical News Today)
In our litigious society, it seems risky to wait for “evidence.” Apparently, the use of reprocessed devices is fairly common. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will investigate. From the Washington Post (free registration):
The GAO’s investigation will build on a report issued in 2000, when reprocessing was a nascent industry. Then, the agency “found little available evidence of harm from reuse,” but also said “reprocessing is not invariably safe, and relatively little is known about the practice.” Reprocessing has grown substantially since then, and it is believed to be practiced in all 50 states and many of the nation’s hospitals, including several in the Washington region.
Dan Vukelich, deputy executive director of the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors, claims that medical devices designed for one-time use are safe. For now, the practice isn’t illegal. But that doesn’t mean it’s smart.
