Abstract

On December 1, 2001 Health Canada, in conjunction with Statistics Canada, released its report, "Reuse of Single-Use Medical Devices in Canadian Acute-Care Health Care Facilities, 2001." This report comes as a result of a survey of 422 acute-care health institutions across the country. Early releases of the survey's results made the national news with reports that reuse of single-use medical devices is widespread in Canadian healthcare institutions. This practice has significant legal liability and regulatory implications for hospitals.