By Nathan Proctor
Terumo, manufacturer of advanced perfusion system 1 Heart Lung Machine, is informing customers that it will no longer offer training and certification for repair of that equipment. When those certifications expire, customers will be forced to contract with Terumo for the servicing of that equipment.
It’s just another example of why Right to Repair reforms are so important. Many hospitals and clinics purchase equipment that they believe they will be able to maintain, but without protections, the manufacturers can change the terms, and effectively monopolize the repair of equipment after it was purchased. Now, without competition, Terumo can charge more for their services – putting a cash-strapped hospital in a bind.
Oregon’s Right to Repair law took effect January 1
Oregonians are the latest Americans with a right to access parts, tools and information needed to fix their consumer devices. On January 1, a new law went into effect, requiring manufacturers of consumer electronics and appliances sold or used in Oregon to give owners of the products any parts, tools or information used by the manufacturer to conduct repairs. The law joins laws on the books in California, New York and Minnesota covering consumer devices.
New Military Right to Repair legislation introduced
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (WA) have introduced new legislation regarding Right to Repair for the military. Similar to an earlier push to amend the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support repair, the new legislation would require contractors to include granting the military full access to parts, tools and information needed to repair a product, when they sell equipment to the Armed Forces.
The earlier amendment earned bipartisan support in committee, though did not make the final draft of NDAA.
Check me out on a recent episode of the Bearded Biomed
I spoke with Chase Torres on his Bearded Biomed podcast about this push for Right to Repair for the military, and highlighted stories I’ve heard from former military biomeds about why these reforms are necessary.
