Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Editor:
The June 1999 issue of Hospital Employee Health reported on the recent congressional inquiry into the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s [OSHA] controversial technical information bulletin concerning latex allergies ["OSHA issues latex allergy warning amid intense storm of accusations," pp. 61-65]. OSHA’s bulletin advises health care workers to reduce their use of natural rubber latex gloves. While most of the reporting on the events surrounding the bulletin’s issuance is balanced and fair, the article contains a serious inaccuracy.
The article correctly indicates I testified on behalf of Allegiance Healthcare Corp. The article also correctly indicates that Dr. Reed, an emeritus professor of medicine at the Mayo Medical School and retired head of the Division of Allergic Diseases and Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, testified at the hearing and has acted as an advisor to Allegiance on this health issue. However, the article wrongly asserts that former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, who also testified at the hearing, is a paid consultant to Allegiance. Allegiance did not and has not paid Dr. Koop in any capacity. The author’s indication that Dr. Koop is a "paid consultant" does a disservice to the stellar reputation of Dr. Koop, who has worked tirelessly to educate the public about the risks of bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. It is also unfair to Allegiance, a provider of latex and non-latex gloves, who has been a leader in the effort to educate health care professionals about latex allergies.
Latex allergy is an important issue. Unfor tunately, your June 1999 article suggests that the independent opinions of recognized health experts should be discounted if they consult for or simply agree with the position of a stakeholder in this debate. What we know today is that natural rubber latex medical gloves provide the best barrier protection against deadly bloodborne pathogens such as AIDS and hepatitis B and C. Scientific studies conducted by the government show that health care workers are at no greater risk for developing latex sensitivity than any other member of the general public. Powdered gloves are cost-effective and preserve the tactile sensitivity necessary to perform delicate medical procedures.
F. Samuel Eberts III
Associate General Counsel
Allegiance Healthcare Corp.
McGaw Park, IL
Editor’s Note: Hospital Employee Health apologizes for any misunderstandings about Dr. Koop's status with Allegiance Health Corp., but notes that Allegiance was given the opportunity to clarify the situation before publication. Despite a promise from a spokesperson to obtain the information about whether Dr. Koop is or ever was a paid consultant to Allegiance and four follow-up telephone calls from our editor, no one from the company responded until this letter was received.
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