A bill to make operating rooms safer advances from Senate Health and Welfare. Bill author, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux said heat-producing equipment used in surgeries can create a smoke plume that could obscure a physician’s view.
“So not only can that surgical smoke interfere with the surgeon’s view while the procedure is going on, it does contain some viruses and bacteria and all kinds of other things,” said Boudreaux.
The legislation requires healthcare facilities to adopt policies and implement surgical smoke plume evacuation systems to mitigate health hazards.
Nineteen other states either have similar laws or legislation in process in relation to surgical smoke plumes. Boudreaux said he’s met with physicians and nurses about the legislation and said the bill is not about penalizing healthcare facilities and providers.
“And I’ve committed to the hospital association that this is not a punitive bill. It’s not one to point the finger at any of our facilities but it’s to bring awareness,” said Boudreaux.
The Louisiana Department of Health would verify compliance with the smoke plume evacuation and mitigating systems. Boudreaux said he’s fostered a good working relationship with medical associations about the legislation.
“And I’ve also committed to them that as a result of this bill if there are some unintended consequences we’ll come back and address those,” said Boudreaux.
Senate Bill 29 passed favorably in committee.
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