How is crude oil used in medicine?

Crude oil is refined into several grades of petroleum. Petroleum is the base material from which plastic is formed. Plastic is used in almost every facet of medicine, from the plastic bottles that contain your prescription, to the plastic wrapper used to keep surgical instruments sanitary until procedure, to the glasses you wear when you are undergoing any kind of dental exam.

Further, crude oil is refined into the petroleum that powers the ambulance that transports people to the hospital - or, in some cases, the helicopter - it's also used in some power plants to generate electricity, and it is often the fuel source that provides backup power to the hospital in the event that there is a failure in the main power grid.

So, you could say that plastic is a part of every facet of the medical industry.