4 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6
Beware the Risks of Secondhand Equipment
Used capital equipment isn't always such a bargain.
T
o stretch their
capital equip-
ment budgets,
many facilities, espe-
cially smaller ambula-
tory surgery centers,
are purchasing used
equipment online or
from larger healthcare
organizations. By and
large, most seem to
be happy with their
purchases, as you can
see in the poll results
on the opposite page.
But using secondhand
equipment that ends
up malfunctioning and
harming a patient can
put you at serious risk
of a liability claim.
Here's what you need
to know and how to protect yourself.
Defunct suction machine
Consider the example of a 38-year-old patient with a torn medial
meniscus who presents at a surgery center to undergo a knee
Medical Malpractice
Frank A. Jones
• BUYER BEWARE When making a used capital equipment purchase, require a
signed contract to protect yourself from future malpractice claims.
