Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: Patients Have Questions

Houston, TXWilliam C. says he was at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada in 2005 for a colonoscopy. He says everything was fine until a few weeks ago, when he saw on the news that the Endoscopy Center was reusing syringes. Like many other patients, William became very concerned that he may have contracted Hepatitis B, C or HIV from the clinic.

"I was tested for all those blood diseases two weeks ago," William says. "I saw the clinic on the news and they recommended that you get blood tests done, so I did that. The tests appear to be negative. I don't know about follow-up tests or if I have to take them. I've asked at the VA but they don't know for sure. The VA here doesn't know anything about this problem with the center.

"I was worried about it. Now, I don't know whether I need to continue being worried or not."

The problem that many patients who have been tested for Hepatitis B, C and HIV face is that they are unsure if a negative test result means that they are definitely negative for those diseases or if they need to undergo follow-up tests. Waiting for the test results is an anxiety-filled time for these patients, who had no idea that they were ever exposed to such serious diseases. Many report feeling extreme stress and emotional distress over the incident.

Currently, seven people have tested positive for Hepatitis C after receiving treatment at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. Approximately 40,000 others were placed at risk of contracting the disease by staff, who were allegedly instructed to reuse syringes to save money.

Following allegations of syringe and vial reuse at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, inspections were conducted into all state ambulatory centers in Nevada. Seven were found to have major problems with infection control. As more people are added to the list of those being tested for Hepatitis B, C and HIV, the number of people joining lawsuits against the center and other medical clinics could grow.

Family members who have lost loved ones to unexplained Hepatitis C are also left wondering if that disease was caused by unsafe practices at the Endoscopy Center. At least one wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the center, alleging that those unsafe practices caused the death of a man who developed Hepatitis C after a procedure at the clinic.

A number of separate lawsuits are now being investigated against the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. One group of lawsuits would involve patients who tested positive for blood diseases after receiving treatment at the center. The other is a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of patients who tested negative for those diseases. This lawsuit would focus on the cost of medical testing and the emotional toll that being tested for such diseases causes.

It is unimaginable that a medical services facility would tell staff to reuse syringes and vials, yet it has allegedly happened at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. If you or someone you love was treated at the center, contact a lawyer to determine whether you are eligible to join a class action lawsuit against the center and its directors.