The Nation - News from Dec. 25, 1986

The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a petition by six senators asking the agency to regulate the reuse of kidney dialysis filters and conduct clinical studies on health risks of the practice. FDA Commissioner Frank E. Young ruled that meeting the request “would set a major precedent in terms of FDA regulating medical practice,” according to an agency report to field offices. The report said that available information does not show that reuse of dialysis equipment is less safe than single use. The petition by Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and five other panel members, resulted from testimony by patients who complained of dizziness and other side effects after dialysis with reused filters.