Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
The New
York Times
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March 18, 1999, Thursday, Late Edition -
Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 24; Column
4; Editorial Desk
LENGTH: 144 words
HEADLINE: For a Safe-Needles Law
BODY:
To the Editor:
As a registered
nurse I was interested to read your March 11 news article "Liver Cancer Rises
Sharply" on the connection between hepatitis B, hepatitis C and liver cancer.
Each year thousands of health care workers face the risk of deadly infection
from being stuck with needles contaminated with hepatitis, H.I.V. and other
diseases. The spread of these diseases can be greatly reduced by requiring all
health care facilities to use safe needles -- needles that automatically retract
or are covered as soon as they leave the body.
Safe needles are readily
available, and California recently enacted a law requiring their use.
It
is time for the New York State Legislature to follow California's lead and
provide the same protection to the state's health care workers.
PATRICIA B. GREENBERG
Fayetteville, N.Y., March 13, 1999
http://www.nytimes.com
LOAD-DATE: March 18, 1999
