The British government has lifted its ban on reuseable surgical instruments,
saying that their disposable replacements are even more risky. The Department of
Health banned reusable tools in January, fearing they could spread vCJD between
patients. But some disposable electrical forceps used in tonsillectomies (
91av, 15 December, p 11) have burnt tissue surrounding blood
vessels, making wounds more likely to haemorrhage later. The government now says
the risk from these tools is a greater threat to patients than the unknown risk
of spreading vCJD.
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