Shelton, J. (2023, October 10). Sounding the alarm about disposable plastic in the Health Care Industry. YaleNews. https://news.yale.edu/2023/10/10/sounding-alarm-about-disposable-plastic-health-care-industry
Plastic waste in the medical field is a big issue, particularly because the majority of medical supplies have to be re-sterilized before it is used again. With misinformation about preventing infection, there is a misguided belief that supplies in the medical field can not be reused and recycled due to the belief that it prevents infection and bacteria from spreading. Jodi Sherman, a doctor and environmentalist, proposes three recommendations that address changing the guidelines the FDA sets to help change the idea about reusable and recycled medical supplies. She ends by saying that the world has to find a balance between patient health and the planet’s health.
This article brings up many interesting ideas about waste created in places we might not think about. It’s hard to contemplate how much waste is used in the medical field unless you have seen it yourself. It is an interesting concept that we should spend more time on when thinking about recycling and finding a more sustainable practice for the medical field. Additionally, the medical field creates a lot of waste, but these plastics that do not break down also are going to hurt us in the long run, with us either breathing in the micro-plastics or how it will affect climate change.
I didn’t realize how much the medical field contributes to plastic waste. I agree that we should be finding a balance between patient health and the planet’s health. However, is there a safe way to do so without risking infections and spreading bacteria?
I have actually always wondered about how dentists and doctors use equipment. I did not know whether or not they cleaned it or got entirely new equipment, so it is very interesting to find this out. Do you know the specifics of the proposed way to have a balance?