Medical Waste: Who is Liable For It?
3/10/2022
The responsibility of ensuring medical waste is adequately handled lies in the hands of whoever is making the waste. It means that if you are in the medical field, you own private practice, you're a healthcare administrator or doctor, and so on, you are liable for improperly handled medical waste.
You must be aware of the fact from the start. Many healthcare professionals only learned about their role in waste disposal when it was already too late. Aside from getting fined, this is actually considered a crime that can put you behind bars.
What to Do?
First, you have to be aware of the consequences of any bad actions and inactions regarding medical waste disposal. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) imposes fines in this regard that can range at around $70,000 per day for every violation found.
If you think you can handle that, never be too certain that you'd only commit one violation. It is also possible for the authorities to notice what's amiss after 15 or 30 days, meaning higher penalties. Some fines could amount to millions since various government bodies handle the oversight.
No Assurance Regarding Compliance
You can never be too sure about the company handling your medical waste disposal. They may carry out all kinds of logos on their website - BBB, HIPAA, EPA, 100% Compliant, and more, but there is always room for mishaps. In this case, accidents can be quite costly on your part.
At the end of it all, it's your waste, so it's your responsibility. Aside from getting professionals to handle disposal, update your insurance and get the type with the most extensive coverage in this matter.
You must be aware of the fact from the start. Many healthcare professionals only learned about their role in waste disposal when it was already too late. Aside from getting fined, this is actually considered a crime that can put you behind bars.
What to Do?
First, you have to be aware of the consequences of any bad actions and inactions regarding medical waste disposal. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) imposes fines in this regard that can range at around $70,000 per day for every violation found.
If you think you can handle that, never be too certain that you'd only commit one violation. It is also possible for the authorities to notice what's amiss after 15 or 30 days, meaning higher penalties. Some fines could amount to millions since various government bodies handle the oversight.
No Assurance Regarding Compliance
You can never be too sure about the company handling your medical waste disposal. They may carry out all kinds of logos on their website - BBB, HIPAA, EPA, 100% Compliant, and more, but there is always room for mishaps. In this case, accidents can be quite costly on your part.
At the end of it all, it's your waste, so it's your responsibility. Aside from getting professionals to handle disposal, update your insurance and get the type with the most extensive coverage in this matter.