More Hospitals Choosing to Recycle Medical Equipment, Infection Concerns Mount
Medical malpractice attorneys in New Jersey and around the country will be concerned at an increasing trend among hospitals to recycle single-use medical products. The trend is part of efforts to reduce the amount of waste that hospitals produce, and make the healthcare industry more eco-friendly. However, it also raises concerns about how such efforts to green hospitals can impact patient safety, and increase the risk of infections.
In the March issue of Academy Medicine, researchers claim that reusing certain products can save the healthcare industry billions of dollars every year, and dramatically reduce the amount of waste that the industry produces. Single use devices must be discarded after they are used. But researchers say that sterilizing some instruments like compression stockings can cut costs, and reduce the amount of waste that the hospital generates. According to the researchers, they have studied the effects of such reuse of products, and have found no adverse patient safety-related incidents.
However, concerns are beginning to mount about the danger to patients who could be at a higher risk of infections because of the hospital’s desire to save a few dollars or cut down trash. According to Michael Bennett who is the president of the Coalition for Patients Rights, it is unconscionable for a hospital to subject a patient to the risks of infections, just to save on costs.
As a New Jersey medical malpractice lawyer, I'm definitely very concerned about this potentially dangerous trend. American hospitals already struggle with a high infection rate, and we need more firm steps taken to keep these rates in check and minimize the threat of infections. While there is a need for reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing consumption in the healthcare industry, this could be done in other areas. Patient safety must not be compromised just to green hospitals.