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This is obscene.This reminded me of the horrible state of their medical care I had read in an article a while ago. (Though I'm sure Kim Jong Un got new scalpels)
"Rusty scalpels used during surgery: supplies are scarce so doctors will reuse them until they are irreparable."
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2015/oct/08/north-korean-hospital-surgery-in-pictures
Scalpels wear out extremely quickly on human tissue, the reason they are one use only is not just because of hygiene, all it takes is a dozen or so really deep long cuts to make them more like ripping tools than slicing tools.
It's because the blades are honed so thin and sharp that anything save an obsidian blade is a one time deal. (To the western world anyway). If they were reusable, they would use an autoclave like they do for other metal surgical equipment.
That's also why real surgical scalpels just have cheap un-attachable disposable plastic handles. It's more trouble than it is worth to sterilise the handle and attach a new sterile blade after each use.
edit: spelling.
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