Endoscopy Center
On February 28, 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District announced that an investigation focusing on the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada had revealed the possibility that 40,000 patients had been exposed to hepatitis and HIV. The reuse of contaminated vials and syringes over a four-year period could have transmitted these potentially deadly diseases to unsuspecting patients. Since the announcement, four clinics connected with the unsanitary practices have been closed and their business licenses revoked and thousands of people have been tested, seven of whom have tested positive for acute hepatitis C (as of 3/18/08). When local law enforcement agencies intervened to serve a search warrant, they shut down the clinics, denying these thousands of patients access to their medical records. Three of the clinics at the center of the controversy have been permitted to reopen to provide consultations, prescriptions and medical records to concerned patients. Their licenses to perform procedures remain revoked.
All patients who underwent a procedure between March 2004 and January 11, 2008 at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center, Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, or Spanish Hills Surgical Center are encouraged to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. LabCorp, a major testing laboratory in Las Vegas, is offering free tests for those who may be infected. UMC is also offering free examinations and referrals for testing. The Southern Nevada Health District has set up a hotline for more information about the scare – (702) 759-INFO.
To date, more than a dozen lawsuits have been filed but in the interest of judicial efficiency, these suits will likely be consolidated into a class action. Our prediction is that the court will classify the various classes according to the severity of the diagnoses. If you have further questions, or for a free consultation, please feel free to contact our office at (702) 566-1212 or contact us through our website here.