Sun editorial:

Terrifying news

Health officials say unsafe procedures at Las Vegas clinic have put thousands at risk

Fri, Feb 29, 2008 (2:08 a.m.)

The news Wednesday that 40,000 people should undergo testing for life-threatening blood diseases because they were treated at a private Las Vegas clinic where safety procedures governing the use of syringes and vials were commonly violated was beyond shocking.

As Southern Nevada Health District officials related the news at an afternoon news conference, it became obvious what they were describing: a terrifying development for the individuals and families affected, and an outrage for the whole community.

Health District officials said the unsafe procedures occurring exclusively during the administration of anesthesia medication took place at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, at 700 Shadow Lane.

They recommended that all those who had procedures requiring injected anesthesia at the clinic between March 2004 and Jan. 11 of this year have their blood tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. All three of those illnesses have a range of severity but can eventually result in death, district officials said.

The risk to anesthesia patients occurred because the clinic’s staff commonly used the same syringe for both injecting a patient and then drawing up new medication from another vial for that same patient. This process posed a serious risk for contaminating the remaining medicine in the vial, yet it was common at the clinic for that leftover medicine to be used for a second patient, district officials reported.

Health District and state health officials zeroed in on the clinic last month after identifying a hepatitis C cluster six patients over the past few months, when two cases a year are normal. A common factor among the patients was their anesthesia procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada.

The unsafe practices at the clinic involving syringes and vials have been corrected, Health District officials said, which is why the clinic is being allowed to remain open.

Correcting what should never have happened, however, is not enough. The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners should thoroughly investigate why standard procedures that are understood even by laymen were not followed by doctors and other trained staff.

In our view, the Clark County district attorney’s office should open an investigation as well, to determine whether any criminal charges should be filed.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By Snippy

3/2/08 at 7:42 a.m.

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Of course criminal charges should be filed. These doctors were behind the laws changing what a doctor can be sued for and then after they won their battle took advantage of the fact that there really is little recourse left for patients upon their malpractice. They paved the way for this catastrophy, committed malpractice and should be held fully accountable. Did you know there was a $50,000 cap for medical malpractice in Nevada. This law was put into effect 2 or 3 years ago after doctors petitioned and paid high dollars for legal representation/counseling to get this law passed. Don't let that high dollar payment fool you. That cost saved them not only millions of dollars, but it saved them the requirement and necessity of being mindful and responsible in our health care. This law means that each individual affected by this negligent catastrophy can only recoup $50,000 from each doctor involved in the careless, wreckless greedy manner in which their health was taken from them. How far do you think $50,000 is going to go for these people? They are going to be so ill they will not be able to work for income, they will need very expensive medication, some will even need liver transplants, and some will possibly even die leaving their family with no financial support. What is going to happen to these people?

Attorneys are out here posting. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. We, "THE PEOPLE" can't just stand by and take or accept the standard of care this law has brought about us. Let's get involved and support these professionals in any attempt to turn this around. Since this law was passed, health care has become outrageously poor and now more aimed at making money than curing the sick. Diagnosis are not being given, true medical investigation is not happening. Patients are repetitively told to come back or just simply have to go back because their illnesses continue. Insurance companies are paying for these repetitive visits and Employers cost for insurance is rising. Not only are patients left to suffer between these visits, but they suffer adverse reaction of the employers. This is only the beginning, its going to get worse if we don't do something. We all appreciate a good doctor, we all believe they should be paid well for their work IF THEY EARN IT, but this law has allowed so many of those that got in the field of medicine for the money to take advantage with no consequence for outright negligence. This $50,000 cap has got to go!

In that same token, attorneys need to take the small medical malpractice cases as well. The reason behind not taking the small cases is also about money. It is not enough money, therefore it is not worth the time. If these cases were brought out, the wrong doers in the medical community would have been exposed before it got this bad and the people who over see them would by now have had more of a chance to see that this law is not helping but hurting the public.