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Needle Stick
There are approximately 770,000 needle stick cases each year. Needle-stick injuries expose United States health-care workers to blood-borne viruses. And the Center for Disease Control reports that needle sticks and other serious injuries are growing every year. Nonetheless it is estimated that only one half of all such injuries are reported. Needle-sticks expose health-care workers to serious blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C and AIDS. Nonetheless, these needle sticks are preventable.
Recently, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have introduced a bill to protect the nations' health-care workers from the hazards of needle-stick injuries. Subcommittee chairman Cass Ballenger introduced the bill and is supported by various nursing, health-care and hospital groups. The legislation called the "Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act" outlines several safer medical devises, needles and procedures that would reduce the possibility of needle sticks. For example, newer needles permanently retract after use. Unfortunately, until the legislation is enacted and additional precautions taken, health-care workers, especially nurses and lab technicians are routinely exposed to these potentially fatal pathogens.
Robert Grossman & Associates, LLP
7 Chesley Road
White Plains, NY 10605
tel (914) 684-0785
fax (914) 448-2698
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