since i haven’t had the opportunity to write much on “living lightly” lately, please go read Graham’s post.
The reason there’s so much waste in the first place is to encourage sterility. When you typically open a package to do a procedure (a lumbar puncture, a central line, etc) you open up a water-resistant plastic kit with waxed-paper lid and find a paper-wrapped package inside, sterile on the inside. Often there’s also a gown inside to wear, as well as a standard size of sterile gloves to put on. You gown up, put on the sterile gloves, and now you can go through the insides of the package, which include: multiple needles, multiple syringes, guidewires, glass bottles with lidocaine in them, a disposalble scalpel, some suture with needle, and some skin-cleaning pads as well. All of this is packaged under sterile conditions, so that very limited bacteria will be present when you’re doing the procedure, to prevent the patient from getting an infection due to the procedure.
what’s a hospital (or individual doctor) to do?!
unfortunately, the response seems to put the responsibility on other industries. if everyone else does a better job of cleaning up, then the healthcare industry can continue making their sterile mess.
the other solution involves just not getting sick. so do your part for the environment and take care of yourself!
Hey, thanks for adding my blog to your blogroll! I feel special…
Geez, what a big thing to try and tackle – green medicine. I have often thought about it myself – there is plenty of waste generated. I’m just trying to encourage people not to litter! Paramedics can sometimes forget to take their rubbish with them. It’s not a pretty site….
I am not in the industry but unfortunately it all probably boils down to money and lawyers. I wouldn’t doubt if the kits are less expensive than doing it themselves and it gives he lawyers one less thing to go to court over.
am working on the just not getting sick part ~ we all really do owe it to ourselves and our world to try and stay healthy …
A conference happening this April (2008) will address Green Medicine issues. Links to the program information:
http://tinyurl.com/ypsze5
http://www.uwhealth.org/alternativemedicine/pathwaystohealthandhealinggreenmedicinehealthypeoplehealthyplanettwodayconference/12533
Best wishes,
Michael