And now, a NLV endoscopy clinic is closed

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 6:25 p.m.

North Las Vegas Business Licensing inspectors shut down the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada at 1815 E. Lake Mead, Suite 207 today. It is the sixth clinic associated with Dr. Dipak Desai, whose Shadow Lane endoscopy clinic has triggered a massive hepatitis outbreak scare.

The city's notice states the clinic constitutes a public nuisance and that it has demonstrated "willful failure to observe long accepted and mandated medical sanitary protocols."

The notice also applies to any similar business operations at other locations in North Las Vegas,, pending review by the city's business licensing authorities.

"Our primary concern is to protect the health and welfare of our residents," City Manager Gregory Rose said. "We are ordering this clinic to shut its doors until we can determine that they are operating in a safe and sanitary manner."

The clinic is affiliated with the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, which potentially exposed 40,000 Nevadans to HIV and hepatitis strains B and C, according to health officials.

The city's cease and desist order provides clinic administrators a chance to appeal the order at a City Council meeting scheduled for March 19, provided the clinic gives the city written notice of intent to appear.