There seems to be some drift away from the original topic here.
I'm not advocating no hard copy manuals as I think that they are of use. However if Ive ordered 300 infusion pumps, I don't want 300 manuals. They are rarely consulted, so no point in each ward having them. Electronic manuals that everyone has access to makes far more sense, and saves going round the whole building if updates come out. I actually think that its far less work for a biomed dept to add to a central library than distribute hard copies to all wards. Maybe this is a 'first world' issue, but the majority of large hospitals are in the first world, and I defy anyone in a Biomed dept in a large hospital to suggest a reasonable way of disposing of unwanted manuals in whatever format they come to you. Surely the best way to stop this is for the customer to chose how many manuals they want in the first place. Even if you send them back, the supplier has already charged you for them. They are obliged by law to supply them, and don't really care what you do with them once you have them on site.
I was hoping for more of a hear,hear I agree, where do I sign the petition type of response to this!
