FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2024
CONTACT: Erika Wilhelm, erika@bcpp.org, (415) 321-2920
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners Promotes Pledge for Hospitals to Phase Out Harmful Medical Devices ASAP – Already Signed by CommonSpirit Health and Sharp HealthCare
(Sacramento, CA – Sept. 26) – California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed the Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act (AB 2300) into law in a landmark decision that bans the use of the toxic chemical DEHP in IV bags and tubing manufactured, sold, or used in the state.
DEHP (Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) is a chemical that makes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic more flexible. Approximately 60-70% of IV bags and tubes used in California and nationwide are made with this chemical despite known links to breast, liver, lung, and testicular cancers. Because it’s not a stable molecule, DEHP leaches out of the plastic into medication and other fluids being infused into the bloodstream of patients, posing a major health risk to already vulnerable populations. (Read more in this recent report: Toxic-Free IV: Getting Harmful Chemicals Out of IV Bags and Tubing.)
“We are thankful to California for passing this important legislation, but we hope we don’t have to wait another decade to phase out these toxic medical devices,” said Suzanne Price, CEO of BCPP. “There are cost-effective and safe alternatives to DEHP and PVC medical devices available right now that provide the same level of functionality without the associated health risks. Making the transition is both feasible and safer for patients, healthcare providers, and the environment, and should happen as quickly as possible.”
The new law requires IV bags to be toxic-free by 2030 and tubing by 2035 in California, but Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) is urging hospitals in the state and around the country to make these medical devices safer for patients “as soon as feasible” and to make a public commitment to do so by signing this pledge. Already CommonSpirit Health has signed the pledge, the country’s largest Catholic hospital chain that operates more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals in 21 states; and Sharp HealthCare, a nonprofit group in San Diego that includes four acute care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, and three affiliated medical groups with approximately 2,600 physicians and 1 million patients seen annually.
“We support AB 2300 and its role in ensuring the removal of DEHP from medical supplies. We believe that safe, cost-effective alternatives should be the norm, rather than the exception,” said Julie J. Sprengel, President, CommonSpirit Health, California Region. “This sensible legislation is a significant step forward in enhancing patient safety, promoting health equity, and advancing environmental justice. We commend the Governor for his leadership in signing AB 2300 into law, and look forward to seeing California lead the way in creating a healthier and safer environment for all.”
“Sharp HealthCare is not only proud to be a signatory of the pledge to protect patients from DEHP but has also been an ardent supporter of AB 2300 throughout the 2024 legislative process,” said Amy Adome, MD, Sharp HealthCare’s Chief Clinical and Transformation Officer. “Patients expect to receive safe, effective, and compassionate care, whether delivered to them by caregivers at their bedside or through the devices they use. Meaningful legislation like this helps hospitals deliver on their promise to provide the best care possible to their patients and protect their communities.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have all urged hospitals and physicians to phase out PVC medical devices, especially those containing DEHP, which has been banned from toys on a national level since 2008 and from beauty and personal care products sold in California since 2020.
For cancer patients in particular, toxic IV bags and tubing represent a serious public health concern: DEHP promotes drug resistance, and interferes with chemotherapy’s ability to fight breast cancer, making cancer cells ‘immortal.’ Research also shows that patients with higher levels of DEHP in their system had higher rates of relapse and breast cancer mortality. This is especially frightening for the over 300,000 women each year who are battling breast cancer in the United States.
Although the new law applies only to California, the national implications are vast. The majority of U.S. hospitals rely on a small group of manufacturers for their IV supplies. While Baxter International, which supplies the majority of California and the nation’s IV bags made with DEHP and PVC has lagged behind in offering non-toxic alternatives, other manufacturers such as B. Braun, Fresenius-Kabi, and ICU Medical already sell FDA-approved DEHP-free IV bags.
Leading California health systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Loma Linda University Health, and City of Hope, made the change years ago. In fact, Kaiser Permanente successfully converted its entire hospital system to DEHP/PVC-free IV bags and tubing in 2012, demonstrating that a shift to non-toxic materials is both feasible and affordable.
“As someone who has experienced the importance of safe and effective medical treatment, I am proud to see AB 2300 signed into law,” said California Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, who introduced the bill. “By eliminating harmful chemicals like DEHP from medical devices, we are taking a major step toward safeguarding the health of all Californians. This law sets a new standard for safety, and I’m confident that California will lead the nation in prioritizing patient well-being and ensuring safer medical practices. I want to thank Governor Newsom for recognizing the importance of this issue and signing this critical bill into law.”
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