Nevada Endoscopy Center Patients Warned of HIV and Hepatitis Risk
Important HIV and Hepatitis information for patients of Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada.
The Southern Nevada Health District alerted patients that had received injected anesthesia medicine during medical procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Nevada, located at
A: The health district was advised of 6 Hepatitis cases, of which 5 have had medical procedures involving anesthesia injections. The CDC and Health District, after investigation, reported that unsafe injection practices of an anesthetic may have exposed patients to the blood of other patients.
A: A syringe (not a needle) used on a patient was used again on the same person to draw additional medication. The re-drawing of medicine using the same syringe could infect the vial from where the medicine was taken from the patient. The vial, not identified for use on multiple people, was reused for another patient. If the vial was infected with the blood of the first person, it is possible that the vial could have been exposed to blood borne pathogens.
A: it is unknown how many people will contract Hepatitis, HIV or other blood diseases but it is estimated that some 40,000 patients are at risk.
If you or a loved one has had a medical procedure at this center or have been notified by healthcare professionals or believe you may be at risk for exposure and contraction of Hepatitis, HIV or any other blood disease from unsafe injection practices at The Endoscopy Center of Nevada, contact us today. 1-888-775-3779
The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada issued the following statement:
“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
“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
“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
“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.”
For additional information visit the website HERE
- Why is the health district making these recommendations?
- How were the cases discovered?
- Why did it take several months for this to come to the attention of the health district?
- How were patients exposed?
- How did you determine the link between these cases?
- What actions have been taken to correct the unsafe injection control practices?
- Who performed the investigation?
- Why is the health district also recommending testing for hepatitis B and HIV?
- How many people will be diagnosed with hepatitis C, B or HIV from this investigation?
- How serious are these illnesses?
- How many cases of hepatitis C are reported to the health district each year?
- What is the Southern Nevada Health District’s role in the response?
- As a patient how can I protect myself when getting these types of medical procedures?
- Are these types of medical procedures safe?
- What is being done to prevent this from happening again?
- What are the recommendations for people who test positive for hepatitis C, B or HIV?
Why is the health district making these recommendations?
- The health district received notification of three acute cases of hepatitis C in January 2008 and has identified a total of six cases to date. Five of the cases had procedures requiring injected anesthesia on the same day.
- 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 exposures did not result from the medical procedures performed.
What in the world is going on, I am sitting here watching this Las Vegas City Council Meeting held today, and I really have to say that I expect more from our public officials. The Major, I love the Major, but did he and all those others on this board just sell us all out for $500,000 for the City of Las Vegas. Well, I do hope that you cash that check and quick, because these circumstances are much bigger than $500,000 for the City of Las Vegas. This is about peoples lives, and the blatant disregard for trust that we should have for our physicians, and the role of the physicians and medical staff to do what is right and ethical for the patients. These actions taken today by the City Council are alarming to say the least.