Washington, D.C.-based Association of Medical Device Reprocessors has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Charleston, W.Va.-based Impression Products.
Here are five things to know:
1. AMDR helps many of the U.S.' top hospitals save over $1 million every year through programs dependent on the FDA-cleared reprocessed medical devices. Reprocessed devices are designed to reduce medical waste and increase savings, allowing hospitals to hire more medical professionals and improve patient care.
2. AMDR CEO and President Daniel Vukelich said, "AMDR filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in support of Impression Products to underscore the importance of the long-standing 'first sale' doctrine at issue in this case. In it, we highlight that, for over 150 years, the law has encouraged the right of consumers to reprocess, repair, recycle or resell their property as they see fit."
3. The amicus brief supports the patent exhaustion doctrine, which would prevent device manufacturers from forcing consumers to purchase new replacement devices instead of reprocessed devices.
4. AMDR hopes the Court will prioritize consumer rights, lowered healthcare costs and decreased medical waste over medical device company profits.
5. Oral arguments for the Impression Products vs. Lexmark case were heard on March 21, 2017.
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