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Published Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 5:17 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.
The state of Nevada assessed the maximum possible fine on a clinic that engaged in dangerous injection practices that put 40,000 people at risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV -- $3,000.
(By comparison, parking in a handicapped spot in Clark County will bring you a $347 fine.)
The fine is a pittance for Endoscopy Center of Nevada, which conducted about 60 endoscopic procedures a day. It is owned by Dr. Dipak Desai, one of the state's most powerful physicians. But the fine is the largest allowed under state law, said Lisa Jones, chief of the Nevada State Health Division's bureau of licensure and certification. The Bureau licenses the clinic, which is the source of a hepatitis C outbreak, according to health officials.
A health investigation showed that nurses at Endoscopy Center used a syringe twice to draw anesthetics from a vial for any given patient. If that patient was carrying hepatitis or HIV, the infected blood could contaminate the vial which was used for other patients, passing along the infection.
The state found three total violations at Endoscopy Center, including the injection problems and the failure to use new cleaning solution with every washing of endoscopic equipment. The clinic, which is now closed, will have to be monitored by the state if it reopens.
ONLY $3,000.00? Alright then it should be for each offense, so that's $3,000 times 40,000 which makes $120,000,000. That is about right. Hopefully they will revoke the licenses of ALL the medical personnel who have worked there during the period in question and send the owner to prison for a decade or two. Any bets any of this will happen?
Social responsibility and personal accountability only seem to apply to gambling debts in our state I am afraid.
i used to work there and I did not know that they were reusing needles or syringes. As a nurse I was monitoring the patient and the vital signs, not watching what the crna was doing. I am appalled.
So that's what my "life" is worth. Serious, I'm 41 very successful in my job, this is crazy.. If my test is positive, believe me, $120,000,000 is not enough..
It is unfortunate that the government can exert such little power. A $3000.00 fine means very little to Desai, He probably makes that amount in merely a day. The saddness however, is that it is beyond my comprehension how so many people could be involved in such an unethical, criminal acts. After four years, not one physician or one nurse from that group stepped forward to protest the wrong doing. If Dr Desai is willing to sacrifice human lives to save pennies,one has to wonder what type of medical practice he was running. Maybe this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps someone in the Medicare department should look into his billing practice. I am quite sure that if he has such little reguard for human lives, he would have even less reguards for the government that pays him (i.e. possible medicare fraud)?
Each of these doctors, nurse, and medical technician should have their licenses revoked, effective immediately.
Each of these doctors, nurses, and medical technicians should have to be strapped down to an exam table and have to endure an EGD (the test where they put a tube down your throat) and a colonoscopy, at the same time, without anestisia.
Each of them should be injected with the HIV and Hepatitus C. After all, shouldn't the adage "do unto others as you would have done unto you" applicable.
These doctors stuck it to insurance companies. Many years ago, Dr. Desai (the majority partner of this endoscopy center) contributed $25,000 of his own money to the keep doctors in Nevada movement. During that time he said because of medical malpractice insurance rates were so high, that doctors were leaving Nevada. Now many insurance companies are having to pay for the blood tests and possible medications, test, hospitalizations, etc.
Question - Why did the news create mass hysteria
without getting all the facts first and to go back 3 years when in 07 the first case of Hep C was found. Isn't this election year - hmmm Mayor Goodman perhaps needs to get all the facts first!!! Those who already had Hep C and HIV now think they have a case get real, don't blame others for what you contracted before being seen.
kmoss are you part of the pr firm representing the doctor.
Hep C and or HIV may not be all of the story here.
It is NOT mass hysteria, it is facts.
The medical personnel at the clinic VIOLATED the basic patients bill of rights. They VIOLATED the OATH they took. They VIOLATED laws by practicing UNSAFE procedures.
It doesn't matter how SMALL some think the risk is, the point is the patients deserved better.
THE PATIENTS RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED.
I fully agree with moscati re: bio-terrorists!
My husband went for a colonoscopy to the Burnham clinic in Nov 2007. Thank God all came back clear on the test. UNTIL this week.
Now we sit in "terror" waiting for his blood results to come back, which he took yesterday at our local drs office.
My heart and prayers are going out to everyone that is a part of this living nightmare.
I blame not only the drs that own these clinics, but even more so I blame the nurses, drs and anyone that "knowingly" used dirty syringes etc,,
Let's face it,,,they are the ones that fired the fatal shot, the owners gave the word and they re: those who intentionally did this due to their own lack of morals, ethics, common sense, etc,,are even more guilty then the one that said lets save some money.
There is NO EXCUSE whatsoever and I believe that anyone who did this should be fully prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
What makes "them" any different then the terrorists we are fighting in Iraq? At least we can see them and are trained to fight our enemies and do it well.
All it took was for 1 person that knew of this disgrace in the clinic to make a call, without giving their name and this could of been prevented.
I know that God will be the final judge on these people.
With hope and prayers to all who have or are suffering now with these diseases, and are waiting for the "results" may God Bless you with HIS PEACE during this time of bio-war in our valley.
Maybe KMOSS works for That doctor? Or maybe worked in the office.. or maybe just plan ---- stupid?