For Immediate Release: May 5, 2023

Contact: Lillian A. Williams, 573-751-0220

Senator Doug Beck’s Surgical Smoke Plume Legislation Approved by the General Assembly

Jefferson City — State Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, is pleased to announce the General Assembly passed his proposal requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to have a smoke plume evacuation system in place. Senator Beck’s legislation is a provision of House Bill 402, which passed on May 5 and mandates these health care facilities to adopt and implement policies and procedures to install plume removal devices.

“Surgical smoke plumes contain carcinogens and other health and safety hazards that may have adverse affects on medical staff and patients,” said Sen. Beck. ”Making plume removal systems mandatory will further protect these individuals and greatly improve health outcomes.”

Electrosurgery and laser procedures are the leading producers of surgical smoke plumes. Hospitals will have the flexibility to choose what type of plume removal systems to install.

For more information about Sen. Beck and his legislation, please visit his official Senate website at senate.mo.gov/beck.