H 2442
An Act protecting patients and healthcare workers from exposure to surgical smoke
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill aims to protect patients and healthcare workers from the harmful effects of surgical smoke. It establishes guidelines and procedures to minimize exposure during surgical procedures, recognizing the potential health risks associated with inhaling this smoke. The legislation seeks to improve patient safety and the well-being of surgical staff by addressing this previously unaddressed hazard.
Key provisions
- Requires healthcare facilities to implement measures to reduce surgical smoke exposure.
- Establishes guidelines for ventilation and smoke evacuation during surgery.
- Promotes the use of smoke evacuation devices.
- Mandates healthcare worker training on surgical smoke hazards and mitigation strategies.
- Requires facilities to assess and document surgical smoke exposure risks.
- Encourages the use of alternative surgical techniques that minimize smoke production.
Who is affected
- Patients undergoing surgical procedures
- Healthcare workers involved in surgical procedures
- Healthcare facilities performing surgery
- Surgical staff
Notable changes
- This is the first legislation in Massachusetts addressing surgical smoke exposure.
- The bill establishes a framework for managing surgical smoke, which was previously unregulated.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
James K. Hawkins
Cosponsors
Adam J. Scanlon
Adrian C. Madaro
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
Christopher Richard Flanagan
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.2442 194th (Current)
An Act protecting patients and healthcare workers from exposure to surgical smoke
By Representative Hawkins of Attleboro, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2442) of James K. Hawkins and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to protect patients and healthcare workers from exposure to surgical smoke. Public Health.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: James K. Hawkins Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Fiscal Note Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 8 actions for Bill H.2442
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Public Health |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 6/6/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/11/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1 |
| 9/11/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Thursday, October 9, 2025 |
| 10/16/2025 | House | Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| 12/8/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 3/19/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026 |
| 4/15/2026 | House | Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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