| When we think about doctors, what is the first thing | | | | Hospitals are inspected constantly to make sure the |
| we envision? For many it's the hospital, the sick | | | | medical surgical instruments as well as the rest of the |
| patients, and the medical surgical instruments. Of all | | | | facility passes muster. Organizations that do this have |
| these things, the most important is the front line of | | | | been created for a variety of reasons over the years, |
| defense to the patient, the instruments. If the hospital is | | | | mainly the lawsuits that have come from problems |
| accommodating, lighting is good, and the doctor is well | | | | caused by faulty or corroded equipment. These |
| trained and professional, but his instruments are either | | | | groups have passed legislatures that create laws that |
| missing, lacking, in poor shape, or in poor repair, this | | | | govern these inspections. There was once a time |
| could be the difference between life and death for the | | | | when doctors' tools and facilities as well as their very |
| patient. | | | | practice of medicine weren't under such scrutiny, but |
| Doctors are well aware of this important fact and so | | | | luckily those days are far in the past. |
| are the many organizations that assure medical | | | | Today, when a doctor purchases new equipment, the |
| surgical instruments are in good repair and the hospital | | | | manufacture of the equipment is required to provide a |
| is stocked with the tools they need. Even if you have | | | | warranty for the item and a guarantee that they |
| a private practice, you are required to have the right | | | | passed stringent safety inspections as well as being |
| tools for whatever surgery or treatment you're | | | | built with certain quality standards. All these things |
| performing. Your tools need to be in optimal shape, | | | | make our medical facilities, doctors, and surgeries safer |
| although used is ok, there is a limit to how much you | | | | for the patient, the doctors, and assure that the |
| can let your tools deteriorate before it is illegal as well | | | | equipment that the doctor uses is not going to cause |
| as unethical to use them. Anything that, for example, | | | | complications inherent in past accidents such as using |
| will be used in surgery, touching the inner workings of a | | | | non-sterile equipment or improperly manufactured |
| human (or for vets, animals) body must pass a strict | | | | equipment. |
| inspection and must be sterilized as well. | | | | |