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Ob-gyns caution about reusing surgical instruments
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 22, 2012
Hospitals are increasingly reprocessing and reusing single-use devices such as surgical instruments to save money. But the safety of the practice has not been demonstrated, especially in gynecologic surgery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Gynecologic Practice said in an opinion issued in October.
Reusing devices does not benefit patients or their physicians, and “it is the operating surgeon’s ethical responsibility to make a good-faith effort to know whether reprocessed single-use devices are to be used, and to not use instruments if he or she has concerns about the quality or safety of the instruments,” the committee opinion said (link).
Reprocessed devices are regulated under federal law, but safety studies have been based on voluntary reports that may underestimate adverse events, ACOG said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/10/22/prbf1022.htm.
