Understanding medical waste management laws through general practitioner centres: implementation and deficiencies

Many institutions produce medical waste such as hospitals and general practitioner centres. These institutions produce large quantities of medical waste daily. Medical waste products generated arise in many forms and include needles, syringes, bandages and body fluids. Medical waste belongs to the most hazardous category of waste types. Serious environmental and human health hazards arise from medical waste mismanagement. The media has brought the quantity and hazards of medical waste mismanagement to the public's attention. Instances of accidental needle stick injuries and illegal dumping of medical waste in the United States and United Kingdom have raised public concern over medical waste management. As a result of these concerns this thesis seeks to bring local medical waste management problems to the attention of Victorian medical waste producers and governments. It is envisaged greater government awareness of medical waste problems might initiate reform of current medical waste management laws to prevent hazards from waste mismanagement. Problems of medical waste management were investigated by conducting in-depth interviews with managing directors of general practitioner centres in the Western Melbourne Division of General Practice to determine whether Victorian medical waste management laws are being implemented. Results of this research suggested that, first, interviewees were insufficiently aware of appropriate medical waste management practices. The names and specific working details of laws governing medical waste were unknown. Consequently the overall management practices adopted by the interviewees was unsatisfactory because not all medical waste was collected and stored appropriately for safe disposal at a later date. Secondly, interviewees did not perceive the threats of medical waste mismanagement to be serious. Interviewee perceptions are unreasonable given the reported cases of the risks resulting from medical waste mismanagement. Victorian medical waste laws govern all aspects of medical waste management. However these laws are implemented inadequately because waste producers are unaware of these laws and are disposing of some medical waste unsatisfactorily. I would like to thank Mr. David Hobby who provided me with background information and contact details of interview participants. Additionally I would like to thank interview participants for their time, patience and participation. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Peter Christoff of The University of Melbourne who supervised my thesis and was a constant source of encouragement