Clinic That May Have Infected 40,000 With HIV, Hepatitis Closed

FOXNews.com ^ | Monday, March 03, 2008 | Associated Press

[metmom]

LOS ANGELES — The city of Las Vegas has shut down a clinic where up to 40,000 people may have been exposed to hepatitis C and the HIV virus through the reuse of syringes and vials, officials said on Sunday.

The clinic at the heart of the scandal, the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, "was served with an emergency suspension of its business license," city authorities said in a statement.

Officials are asking about 40,000 people to be tested for hepatitis B and C and HIV because of unsafe medical practices at the clinic.

Health authorities launched an investigation into the clinic after six former patients were diagnosed with hepatitis. Nurses at the clinic were told "to reuse syringes when administering anesthesia" and "to reuse vials of medication," the city said, citing a probe by public health agencies.

[metmom]

Health ping

[babble-on]

what happens intravenous stays intravenous

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Health/life BUMP!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Is this a government clinic?

[DManA]

Now I’m confused. I thought the clinic was in Las Vegas. Did they have a satellite facility in Los Angeles?

[Atomic Vomit]

"what happens intravenous stays intravenous"

Heh. If only.

AV

[DManA]

Never mind. I’ll get another cup of coffee.

[A CA Guy]

Holy cr@p, every doctor, administrator and nurse that reused stuff like that belongs with out their licenses and in jail. They should also remove all their assets and put them towards an account for the victims.

This is two steps shy of something you’d expect from Hitler Doctors.

[CaptainK]

The report was filed in Los Angeles. It happened in Vegas.

[Greg F]

Nurses were told to reuse syringes. That’s just wierd.

[DManA]

Thanks, I figured that out. This story has really hit me hard. That this can happen in this country reveals that we’re finally getting to where we’ve been heading for 50 years.

[DManA]

And they followed orders for years. Not one employee blew the whistle on this?

[taxcontrol]

Hint, if you are a health care worker and told, or asked, requirede to reuse syringes, 1) contact your lawyer right away and 2) update your resume and 3) contact your local health office.

[MizSterious]

The news is datelined LA, but it states the clinic was in LV.

[OKSooner]

That's an order that could turn out to be an order for murder - singular, multiple, or mass.

And the nurses went along with it. "I was only following orders from my superiors."

[dragnet2]

The city of Las Vegas has shut down a clinic where up to 40,000 people may have been exposed to hepatitis C and the HIV virus

Lets hope what happens in Las Vegas stays in Vegas.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Re-use of syringes is a major vector of HIV in Africa. For a nauseating browse, you can check out these articles. But that's the Third World, y'know, not like Las Vegas....

[dragnet2]

I thought the clinic was in Las Vegas.

You thought right.

[I_Like_Spam]

Very disquieting, if it is true.

Is there an union organizing campaign at this clinic? One of the supposed patients interviewed in another story about this is one Charles Rader. There is also a Charles Rader who is an official with the UFCW working on organizing Walmart. Could they possibly be the same person?

Excuse me for my cynicism, but this story just seems so out of the realm of typical medical protocol that something more pedestrian like a dirty trick just seems more likely.

[MizSterious]

Something similar (fewer people involved) happened at Norman Hospital, in Norman OK (just south of OKC). People can be remarkably stupid, even people supposedly well-educated as most nurses are. There was a lawsuit settled out of court, but it’s my understanding those poor people got a mere pittance. HCV and HIV are lifelong challenges, and although they like to say HCV has a cure, it doesn’t—the “cure” is not only awful to endure (6-8 mos worth, too), but only about 60% effective.

Even if the LV people win a lot in a lawsuit, I doubt it will cover their (quite literally) pain and suffering, let alone the bills. Especially if there are cross-infections.

[dragnet2]

Health authorities launched an investigation into the clinic after six former patients were diagnosed with hepatitis. Nurses at the clinic were told "to reuse syringes when administering anesthesia" and "to reuse vials of medication,"

Very disquieting

Disturbing ain't the word. This is something you'd expect out of the Congo...

[MizSterious]

It happens far more often than you’d think. Usually, it’s settled quietly, and doesn’t hit the news. Sometimes it’s a third world staff who is just working they way they used to back home—but certainly not always. In Norman, it was a US born and trained person who was calling the shots.

[dragnet2]

Many are finding it better to just stay away from the Health/Insurance field and those that operate within it. Getting caught up in that machine can sometimes be much worse than what is afflicting you.

[dragnet2]

See 24

[tioga]

OMG.....what were they thinking?

[Richard Kimball]

I’ll add one to your hint. Don’t do illegal stuff for someone. Employers ask employees to do illegal stuff on occasion. Don’t do it. I’d rather be looking for a job than a parole hearing.

[samson1097]

I don’t like the terms “HIV Victim” or “AIDS Victim”, but in these cases it would definately fit.

[Getready]

Paranoia alert ON:

This doesn’t sound right. I work in health care. I don’t
know any nurse, (and I know lots of them) who would reuse
a syringe knowingly. I don’t know any lab director who would
direct anyone to use unsafe infectious disease practices.
I don’t know any phlebotomist who would reuse a needle.
I don’t know any endoscopy nurse who would not disinfect
the tubing knowingly.

This almost smacks of a purposeful endeavour, unless the
media is reporting it incorrectly.

There would be tons of whistleblowers for the following
reasons:

1) some of staff would have animosity toward others, and
report the others failures immediately(in order to get
rid of them)

2) some of the staff would have animosity toward the
director and report his/her failures to the health
department

3) Administrator could fire workers for the workers
failure to follow proper procedures. There are many
“slacker” employees who need to be fired.

4)GI labs need to keep a fair amount of medications around
in order to handle potential emergency situations, but
a free standing lab will probably not take in very ill
patients. I am not sure they would save too much money
reusing meds.

5) Most medications are packed in sizes that allow for
only one use. There are many meds packaged in what are
called “multiple” use packages, but for the narcotics and
sedatives that are used in endoscopy this is not common.

6) There are so many jobs available as health care workers,
one would not worry much about finding employment if terminated
for “whistleblowing” Plus one could win lots of money if
one won the wrongful termination lawsuit.

If there is knowing wrongdoing here, a charge of attempted
manslaughter, and murder might be appropriate especially if
it can be proven that a patient got HIV, Hep.B, Hep.C or
other infections from the lab.

They really ought to investigate the nationality, and
history of all of the workers at that institution.
The whole things smacks of fishy goings-on.

OK, paranoid alert OFF.

[metmom]

This is two steps shy of something you’d expect from Hitler Doctors.

You mean like Hillarycare?

[Wally_Kalbacken]

All your assets are ours.

[Bobibutu]

“This doesn’t sound right.”

No kidding! Something is missing - Fox has been leaving a lot out recently in stories or isn’t doing good research to begin with. Probably both.

For the reasons you cite - and I second them thru personal experience as well - this is beyond comprehension as reported.

[az_gila]

Does anyone know how many $$$ are “saved” each time by this practise?

[dragnet2]

This doesn’t sound right. I work in health care

Doesn't surprise me. I'd even bet 20 percent of those in the medical field are illegal drug users, another 25 percent can barley speak English, and probably 15 percent of those in the medical field have questionable backgrounds and credentials.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“Nurses were told to reuse syringes.....”

Whoever told them should be hanged from the mast of the pirate ship at the Treasure Island Hotel.

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[grey_whiskers]

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING!

NO more calls, please.

We have a winner!

Cheers!

[dragnet2]

Doesn't surprise me. I'd even bet 20 percent of those in the medical field are illegal drug users, another 25 percent can barley speak English, and probably 15 percent of those in the medical field have questionable backgrounds and credentials.

In ADDITION, I'd be willing to bet that 60 percent of those in the medical field commit insurance fraud as a matter of routine.

[matthew fuller]

Clinic closes- All involved nurses and managers seek re-employment in other L.V. facilities.

[zeugma]

And the nurses went along with it. "I was only following orders from my superiors."

When the crap really hits the fan in this country, you will be amazed at how many would willingly work the ovens as long as they are getting paychecks. I won't even be slightly shocked. Those people are all around you.

[Nam Vet]

My little doxie has diabetes and I give her two injections per day with her two meals. I use a new syringe each and every time. They are not that expensive! Something around 1.4 cents a pop.

Nam Vet

[OKSooner]

"Those people are all around you. "

I know that they are, from experience. I just pray to God that I'm not one of them.

[zeugma]

I know that they are, from experience. I just pray to God that I'm not one of them.

What it will take is a conscious decision to die on your feet if necessary. 

[the_Watchman]

Someone has issued a retraction:

CORRECTION: Earlier this blog said “Health officials say that practitioners were routinely using the same syringe on more than one patient, which is widely known to pass on infection.” Actually, the same syringe was not being used on multiple patients. But single dose vials of medication, which had become infected through their initial use, were being used again. Health officials say this is widely known to pass infection.

The truth may be hard to determine.

[sweetiepiezer]

“Lets hope what happens in Las Vegas stays in Vegas.”

Oh no, they sent out the 40,000 letters but they don’t have current addresses for 1,400.
So where are they and are they unknowingly walking around with hepatitis or HIV?
Scary.
They better get hold of these doctors passports.

[1rudeboy]

Hint, if you are a health care worker and told, or asked, requirede to reuse syringes, 1) contact your lawyer right away and 2) update your resume and 3) contact your local health office.

No doubt, or otherwise prepare to spend some time in prison. If you are a nurse, the "oh, that was dangerous?" argument won't fly.