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The British government has lifted its ban on reuseable surgical instruments,
saying that their disposable replacements are even more risky. The Department of
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ banned reusable tools in January, fearing they could spread vCJD between
patients. But some disposable electrical forceps used in tonsillectomies (
New Scientist, 15 December, p 11) have burnt tissue surrounding blood
vessels, making wounds more likely to haemorrhage later. The government now says
the risk from these tools is a greater threat to patients than the unknown risk
of spreading vCJD.