White Paper on the reuse of single use devices

In recent years, great advances in the design, manufacture and uses of medical devices have provided patients with enormous benefits during surgery and treatment. However, some important safety, ethical and legal issues arise when such devices, originally designed and labelled for single use, are, despite the manufacturers’ express instructions, refurbished, repackaged and reused. This practice is undertaken mainly for the alleged economic benefit of the users’ institutions, usually hospitals.