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Southern Nevada Health District officials announced today they have identified six cases of hepatitis C, five of which stemmed from procedures occurring on the same day that involved anesthesia at the Endoscopy Center of Nevada.
Following a joint investigation with the Nevada State Bureau of Licensure and Certification (BLC) and with consultation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health district determined that unsafe injection practices related to the administration of anesthesia medication might have exposed patients to the blood of other patients.
The health district is recommending 40,000 patients who had procedures requiring injected anesthesia at the clinic between March 2004 and January 11, 2008, contact their primary care physicians or health care providers to get tested for hepatitis C as well as hepatitis B and HIV.
Here is the district’s announcement.
And here is the company’s response:
On behalf of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, we want to express our deep concern about this incident to the many patients who have put their trust in us over the years. As always, our patients remain our primary responsibility and we have already corrected the situation.
The recent events related to the Southern Nevada Health District study mark the first time anything like this has ever happened at our facility. We have already taken steps to ensure that it will never happen again.
The health district began its investigation in January, and we have been fully cooperating with them. We were officially notified by the health district on February 6, 2008 and submitted our detailed Plan of Correction on February 15, 2008. All concerns noted by the health department were addressed immediately. We continue to work closely with the Southern Nevada Health District and other health agencies during this ongoing review. We want to be sure that every patient who may have been exposed is informed and tested.
To help us with these issues, we have engaged the services of nationally renowned experts who have extensive epidemiological experience and that have worked closely with the Centers for Disease Control in the past. They include Dr. Janine Jason, CEO of Jason and Jarvis Associates. She is a Harvard Medical School-trained physician, epidemiologist, and immunologist who served as a medical scientist and senior epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was on the Emory Medical School faculty for 23 years prior to becoming a private consultant. Dr. Jason has authored more than a hundred peer-reviewed medical and epidemiologic scientific articles.
In addition to our corrective actions, we are on a mission to maintain the trust our patients have had in us during our years of service to southern Nevada.
We wish to emphasize that the actual risk of anyone being affected by this is extremely low, but as a precaution, anyone who has undergone procedures at the Endoscopy Center who required anesthesia should be tested.
As I’m sure you understand this situation brings with it a number of complex elements including patient privacy and regulatory guidelines. At this time, our counsel has asked that we limit our comments to this statement, and we are unable to take questions.
Thank you.
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.
How does this keep happening?
See Monday's CBS Evening News piece:
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/...
Okay. Who's handling the class action civil suit? My entire family is affected by this. I hope that there will be criminal charges filed as well. A member of my family has had two procedures done at this chop-shop within the time parameters. Now we both have to undergo tests. Who is going to pay for these tests? If we test positive, who is going to pay for our care? Yes, I have insurance, through the company I work for, but it is certainly not a policy I would have bought for myself. They are so Scrooge-like that I have to fight with them every time I have a routine doctor's visit.
This whole, disgusting thing is of course bottom-lined by greed. They saved a few bucks by subjecting their patients to life-threatening complications. 40,000 patients is not an innocent oversight. A decision was made by someone, and carried out by several others. In this day and age, who would even consider re-using needles to be a safe practice?
Outrage does not begin to convey how I feel when I think of the adders that head and staff our health care facilities in this state. How do we fight it, especially now that UHC is going to have a virtual monopoly here?
It happens because people are human and make mistakes. However I think your point about cost cutting related to greed is valid.
I'm sure you're inundated with responses re:the SNHD article. I did not have my colonoscopy on March 19, 2007 done at the Shadow Lane address, but at the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center at 4275 Burnham Ave, LV. I have been unable to get through on the hotline number, but I want to know if the center on Burnham Ave is involved.
Please respond.
Many thanks,
Concerned patient
cut cost!!!why?so these careless dr.s can make legitimate excuses to give deadly diseases!i'm so pissed that nevada attorneys would even defend a dr and the staff!they knew what they were doing,now thousands of innocent human beings suffer at the cost of ones cost cutting methods?therse no money amount to heal hep c,i know im one with this disease.
I am empathetic with several of the people above. Both my husband and I had no choice in where we got our colonoscopies performed, so we ended up at the Endoscopy Center of NV on Shadow Ln. last year. I am appalled that this incident has happened - - no excuse in this day and age! We were herded in like cattle and they rushed us through with the procedure and hurried us out the door. How much does syringes and vials cost? Shame on Dr. Carroll - - we won't be seeing him again!
if this was done by al qaida we'd be in a panic and ready to go to war
the neanderthal in chief should have priority on medical errors, drunk driving, hospital mistakes, etc - and we'd have saved more lives.
This is not a matter of incompetence-everybody knows better. This is CRIMINAL and needs to be PROSECUTED!!!!
This is what happens when we lower our standards in every practice. Professionals are paid excellent salaries because hey are professionals. The bigger story here is how nurse practioners are trying to get jobs they're not qualified for, but because it would be cheaper to pay them to do jobs that MDs should be doing, HMOs encourage it.
KEEP STANDARDS HIGH, that's what makes this country great.
Incredulous. I survive cancer, 4 surgeries, and assorted machinations that life has to offer in the way of past relationships both personal and professional only to have a dirty needle now knocking at my door, too? This defies any type of comprehension whatsoever.
Of the 40K who have been exposed and potentially infected, how many of them have potentially infected others if they indeed do come back positive?
In this day of safety in handling potential bio infectious material, I find this unacceptable. I also question, is this an isolated thing or has it gone on in other organizations too?
We extend our best wishes for good health for everyone who has been exposed to Hep C, Hep B and HIV in Nevada. Unfortunatley, it is not an isolated incident. Outbreaks through reuse of syringes are being investigated currently in Michigan and New York. I am one of 99 who was infected with Hepatitis C through reuse of syringes during chemotherapy in 2000 in Nebraska. We have formed a patient advocacy foundation - Hepatitis Outbreaks' National Organization for Reform (HONOReform) to work at preventing this from happening again. Please visit our website at www.HONOReform.org. and join in our efforts! Evelyn McKnight, pres HONOReform
This is totally unacceptable! There is no way this office should still be open medical licenses should be suspended a law suit should be filed ASAP. It was a procedure purely to save a few dollars as is evidenced by the length of time it allowed to go on.
When Non-anesthesiologists administer "Conscious Sedation", there are inherently more risks to the patients. This is one example. Many Insurance companies will pay for an anesthesiologist for even screening colonoscopies, and those that don't should be urged strongly to do so.
When it comes to your safety, a board-certified anesthesiologist (with more than 8 years of training in medicine, pharmacology and anesthesiology) is better-qualified to oversee the sedation of patients.
Office-based sedation is overseen by the Physician doing the procedure,who instructs a nurse on which drugs to give and how much. This means the physician's attention is divided. He bears the burden of having to deal with unexpected reactions to the medications, decreased oxygen levels, with minimal training on how to do this.
The incentive for the Physician is that they not only bill for the procedure itself, but also bill for the sedation...many Physicians also receive up to 4 TIMES MORE for doing procedures in the office than in a surgery center or hospital!!!Talk about incentive!
This is a terrible tragedy, caused by inattention to detail, because the staff were not focused on the sedation nearly as much as the procedure being performed itself...
Hey Mike G. Are you suggesting that during 4 to 5 years performing procedures on 40,000 patients all the doctors, nurses and hundreds of health care specialists, did not notice the reuse of syringes?
How ridiculous is that? ALL of these people are complicit in allowing contaminated tools to be used. Let the lawyers loose. That's a very human response, Mike. That will help it from happening again.
I, too, had a procedure not once, but twice at the Burnham facility, ownership partnered by Dr. Desai...Gastroenterology Center of Nevada. He has stake in 6 businesses. The person in charge is always responsible. And this "doctor" has allowed this 1st year med school taboo to continue with his blessing for the sake of profit. I hope the Health District will investigate ALL of his facilities. The patients affected will probably top 40,000. Here is another fine thing Nevada can be embarassed about along with #49 in education in the country and #1 in foreclosures, and no wonder we have a high suicide rate! Our health insurance sucks. That's why HPN sent me to that awful place for my procedure. I even had to keep my shoes on!!! How gross was that? This whole thing does not surprise me one bit.
This was not a case of sloppy practices, this is the GREED factor, endemic in all businesses and a reflection of our broken health care system. Physicians of old raped the system, but seeking 5-10% pay cut yearly (Medicare) of physicians struggling to pay back $300k or MUCH more in school loans (to attend a medical school in the US) is only asking for trouble. How much health care could have been provided by the monies spent on the presidential election this year?
People infected by Dr. Desai... please don't use the same bullet on him twice.
As a retired RN this boggles my mind. Sloppy, greedy and dangerous beyond belief.
Your correction said:
"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"
For the virus to get into a newly opened single-dose vial, a syrnge that was used on another patient had to be the culprit to introduce the virus into the new vial. Hence, the initial statement reported is also correct.
Remind me to go out of state for my colonoscopy.
The state is supposed to protect us from unethical practices such as this; why was the center allowed to stay open for a few days instead of being closed down immediately. One newspaper article stated they would receive sanctions "the good news for it's employees is that it will not be forced to close". How insensitive!! The good news for employees would be to loose their license and be sued so that they will think 3 times before endangering the lives of trusting patients again.
The doctors and administration should be drawn and quartered then placed in an oven.
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.
The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada has only so much malpractice insurance to go around. Unfortunately, many who file their claims at a later date may not be adequately compensated.
To file a claim now visit:
http://www.EndoscopyLawsuits.com
I think it's time we rethink "tort reform" isn't it? This is not mere negligence, but gross negligence.
To: Mike G
Yes, people are human and make mistakes, but this was, BY NO MEANS, a mere mistake. It was GROSS negligence, as stated correctly, fueled by human greed and the lack of integrity possessed by those healthcare professionals who participated in this horrible act. Good luck to all of them ... they are really going to need it.
Could these events be catagorized as hate crimes? Are the vast majority of the victims Americans?
Someone said "people are human and make mistakes"... you have GOT to be kidding.. this was no "mistake"... I agree with Mike G! Only thing I disagree with is wishing them any luck at all.. they deserve permanent loss of licensure, huge fines and lengthy imprisonment... every single person who "knew" what was going on and failed to alert authorities, and especially those who participated directly or indirectly in this heinous negligence... no negligence is too kind... downright criminal acts of attempted murder!
Oh, by the way.... as to Burnham center question... I have been told by the Health Dept. that is "by your discretion" whether to be tested or not. "At this time" only the Shadow Lane center is "officially involved". MY "discretion" is sending me immediately for testing...
I am concerned that my husband may have went to this clinic almost a year ago to have an operation we cant find the paper work is there any way to find out if he was a patient of theirs, he did go to a place on shadow lane but at that time their were so many doctors and places that I cant recall I think that it was called endoscopy center of nevada is that the same place I am scared I have tryed to call that 800 # but its always busy as well as the health district, can someone give me some info PLEASE
Thanks, God Bless
(Removed by the site staff)
Does anyone know how much it costs to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV - without insurance?