Reuse of dialysizers

[grannysgirl]

My center no longer uses disposable dialyziers. Because the staff is so lazy they are not very good with checking to make sure it has the same patients name on it. For example, they ask the patient to check the label to mark sure its you. Well, today it was suppose to be a new dialyziers. I noticed that my name label was placed over another label. If it was new there should have been only one label. What rights to I have to go back to the disposable dialyzier? The are making me nervous. 

[Stoday]

That's hard, grannysgirl. I guess you must live in some godforsaken country such as Cuba, having to keep 1950's cars going and so on. I would have thought that the nurses could have been somewhat more diligent though.

Just think yourself lucky they haven't reverted to sausage skin dialysers they had when they got the cars. Erm — your dialysers have improved since the sausage skin dialysers haven't they?

 

[monrein]

I think you're completely within your rights as a patient to refuse reuse but perhaps someone in the U.S could comment.  I live in Canada and I'm pretty sure that some centers do reuse but I've never been in one that did.

[M3Riddler]

My center no longer uses disposable dialyziers. Because the staff is so lazy they are not very good with checking to make sure it has the same patients name on it. For example, they ask the patient to check the label to mark sure its you. Well, today it was suppose to be a new dialyziers. I noticed that my name label was placed over another label. If it was new there should have been only one label. What rights to I have to go back to the disposable dialyzier? The are making me nervous. 

Grannysgirl,

It is totally your right to refuse the recycled dialyzors and ask for a new one each treatment. They are unable to force you to use them.
If they do not agree, then i would ask to see every record and logs they have of the procedures that were taken to properly disinfect the dialyzor.
Ask yourself this...Wouldyou want to reuse your needles? Practically the same thing....
Also, reusing dialyzors will cause the fibers to break down over time and you will not receive an adequate treatment.  Also, if they do reuse, you are to receive the same dialyzor each treatment and not someone else's that has been disinfected.
The center is just trying to save money. I would check to see if they are charging the insurance for a new dialyzor each treatment....
I would say NO. and ask for a new one.

///M3R

[kitkatz]

I get sick on reuse dialyzers and have to have new one every time, plus it has to be a certain type of dialyzer.

[plugger]

Below are some studies about reuse that are a few years old, but I haven't seen much to refute them:

http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=58.0

http://dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=57.0

My kid's doctor seemed a bit upset when I wanted her taken off, but he did as I asked.  I should mention some years ago Fresenius did quit doing reuse.  Think all this could provide some backup for anybody wanting to get off reuse.

[Stoday]

I see that Baxters sell some dialyzers as single use only and others as single/reuse. That implies a manufacturing difference. Anyone know what the difference is?

Interesting post in Plugger's second link about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide 

[Epofriend]

In the very large group of papers one has to sign when they begin treatment is one regarding reuse of dialyzers. You are in the USA, you had to sign it. It gives you the option to choose reuse or to opt out of reuse. It carefully explains that, should you choose reuse, you can opt out at any time by advising them verbally or in writing. They must immediately honor your choice.

Ask to see a copy of the paper on their reuse program, the one that explains your rights.

[cloud393]

At my center you get a new one every time unless you opt to reuse.  I agree with the other posts, if you want a new one, demand it.

[plugger]

Interesting post in Plugger's second link about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide 

Very dangerous stuff!  People drown in it!

As for the other posts, it did look to me to be coming from reliable sources.