Infectious medical wastes. Council on Scientific Affairs
A number of recent incidents involving improper handling and disposal of
hospital waste have prompted the demand for more stringent legislation to
cover the management of infectious hospital waste. Resolution 53 (December
1987 Interim Meeting) called for the American Medical Association to
promote the passage of federal legislation for the proper disposal of
infectious hospital waste. This resolution has prompted a Council on
Scientific Affairs report on the current status of infectious hospital
waste management and of state and federal regulations to control such
waste. The Council has concluded that existing federal and state
regulations for the management of hazardous waste--in conjunction with the
accreditation program of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations and the guidelines of the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Centers for Disease Control, if adhered to and properly
enforced--should be adequate to ensure that the public and environment are
not endangered. Therefore, the Council does not favor additional federal
legislation at this time and recommends that this report be accepted in
lieu of Resolution 53.
