So I had a medical...procedure last week, just an investigative thing. It seems they're continually making "advances" in the medical supply industry.

When the nurse put the pulse sensor on my finger, Greg and I noticed that it looked pretty lightweight, even....disposable. How handy and sanitary - you can just stick this thing on a patient, use it once, and then throw it away! Guess how much it costs? $16, or $322 for a box of 20. Yes, check out this beautiful pulse sensor, a real steal at just $16 each! And, you never have to use it again! Greg actually grabbed the cord for the sensor when the nurse was done with it, and we examined it further.

Where do I even start with this? First of all, who's paying for these supplies? At least some part of it is figured into those health insurance premiums. Or, what if you're not lucky enough to have health insurance (because it's not so easy to get in this country), and end up in the hospital? Then we thank you, because the bill for that $322 pulse sensor might go to you.

...Not to mention the landfills that receive this waste hospitals are generating. As Greg pointed out, why are the electronic parts of this device included in the disposable portion? Couldn't a disposable, sanitary, biodegradable (or at least recyclable) sleeve be made that covers the electronics? Then you could re-use the key parts!

The friendly nurse who set me up also said they were going to be switching to disposable blood pressure cuffs ($26-$125) soon. This means that every patient admitted to the hospital will equal at least one disposable pulse sensor and one disposable blood pressure cuff in the trash. I see dollars and landfill space shrinking before my very eyes.