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Health groups call on FDA to label toxic medical devices
HealthLeaders News Brief, July 31, 2007
Several health organizations asked the US Food and Drug Administration to label medical devices containing the toxic chemical di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). The phthalate leaches out of vinyl plastic medical devices into patients, posing risks to developing reproductive systems--including reduced fertility--of boys. The letter accompanied a legal petition to FDA from the non-profit organization Health Care Without Harm.
Organizations joining HCWH in calling for mandatory labeling of DEHP-containing medical devices include the American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; American Public Health Association; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Physicians for Social Responsibility and American College of Nurse Midwives.
"Despite FDA warnings about the health risks of DEHP-containing medical devices, these products are still being used in many hospitals to treat at-risk patients, even though safer alternatives are available for most," said Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, of the Science and Environmental Health Network. "Labeling of products containing DEHP is crucial to enable health care facilities to heed safety directives."
Organizations joining HCWH in calling for mandatory labeling of DEHP-containing medical devices include the American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; American Public Health Association; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Physicians for Social Responsibility and American College of Nurse Midwives.
"Despite FDA warnings about the health risks of DEHP-containing medical devices, these products are still being used in many hospitals to treat at-risk patients, even though safer alternatives are available for most," said Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, of the Science and Environmental Health Network. "Labeling of products containing DEHP is crucial to enable health care facilities to heed safety directives."
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