A class action lawsuit has been filed against the surgical center alleging gross negligence in reusing syringes linked to a hepatitis C outbreak. In late February 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District announced that unsafe practices at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada may have led to six reported cases of hepatitis C, a potentially fatal blood-borne virus. More than 40,000 people who received anesthesia at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada between March 2004 and January 2008 are being urged to be tested for hepatitis, strains C and B, and HIV. The lawsuit was filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada and seeks punitive damages in excess of $10,000 per patient.
The suit names as defendants the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada; the center's chief administrator, Dipak Desai; a center doctor, Eladio Carrera; as well as any employees who directly provided and/or supervised unsafe medical procedures. Las Vegas city officials have shut down the center and revoked its license.
Health inspectors were led to the center after six cases of hepatitis C were forwarded to the county health office. Investigators traced five cases back to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada where workers there contaminated a multi-dise vial of anesthesia with hepatitis by using a contaminated syringe. The syringe had initially been used on a patient with hepatitis and even though the needle had been changed in-between medication withdrawals, the syringe had not, contaminating the vial's contents with hepatitis.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada Updates
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: More RevelationsAs lawsuits continue to mount with respect to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and the Hepatitis C outbreak linked to the facility, new questions are surfacing as to just how much malpractice insurance Dr. Dipak Desai, the majority owner of the clinic, carried for the Center.
Hepatitis C Contracted from Endoscopy Center
In November, 2007 Jim, a healthy, 53-year old man, underwent a routine colonoscopy at the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center. The procedure showed nothing wrong and he was given the all clear and sent home. But in February 2008 he found out that he had contracted Hepatitis C as a result of faulty practices at the clinic.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: More Hepatitis C Tests Positive
The largest patient notification in US history that centered around the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada continues to worry current and former patients of the facility, that they might be next to receive a positive test for hepatitis C.
Nevada Hepatitis C Cases Rise, CDC Slams Endoscopy in New Report
Since the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada was first linked to the hepatitis C outbreak, more than 80 cases have been confirmed, and a damning report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta adds further fuel to the fire.
Nevada Hepatitis C Cases Rise, CDC Slams Endoscopy in New Report
Since the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada was first linked to the hepatitis C outbreak, more than 80 cases have been confirmed, and a damning report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta adds further fuel to the fire.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: "It Makes Me Furious"
Karen J. (not her real name) is one of many people treated at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. And like many of those people, Karen learned recently that she would have to be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV because staff at the center reused needles, vials and syringes.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: "I Wish I Had Just Walked Out"
Since news about the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada broke a few months ago, many patients who were treated at the center have had constant worry about their health. They have learned that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV because syringes, vials, forceps and rinse water were reused during procedures at the center.
Eighth Hepatitis C Case Linked to Endoscopy Center
The eighth case of hepatitis C has now been linked back to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. This news has got the community worried even more since there are approximately 40,000 patients treated at the facility in which recommendations have been made to get tested for hepatitis C because of a possible exposure through contaminated syringes and orders from management that told doctors to treat as many as they can as fast as they can.
The Endoscopy Center Hep C Scare: The Number Could Climb Higher
While 40,000 people have been identified as candidates for testing in the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada hepatitis C scare, that number could climb to 60,000. What's more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, such unsafe practices as re-using syringes and double dipping into single-shot vials could be more widespread.
Physician Seeking to Buy Endoscopy Center
A physician by the name of Dr. Rudy Manthei who is the top health care advisor to Nevada's governor, owner of Seven Hills Surgery center, and Nevada Eye & Ear's founder; is considering the purchase of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and another clinic that is owned by Dr. Dipak Desai.
Endoscopy Center: A Seventh Hepatitis C Victim
As the tragedy and the controversy related to unsafe medical practices at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada continues to unfold, a public hearing Monday attended by many of the potential victims of the hepatitis C scare saw the center formally lose its business license, and pay a fine worth a half million dollars.
Health Inspectors Discover Disastrous Health Practices at Medical Facility Leading to Hepatitis C
Health Inspectors coming into a medical facility, Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, have discovered disastrous health practices, which have been the impetus behind a Hepatitis C outbreak. The Hepatitis C outbreak was reported in February of this year, but the investigation began in January of this year. The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada has since been closed, but an investigation continues to probe into the details surrounding the disease outbreak in the community.
Endoscopy Center: "You Put Your Trust in the Doctor"
Much like other patients treated at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, Joe P. has had very stressful days. He was recently informed-- by a letter--that he needed to be treated for HIV and Hepatitis because he had a procedure at the Endoscopy Center. Luckily, Joe's test results came back negative. But, like many people, Joe is upset that he was ever exposed to such diseases.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: Patients Have Questions
William 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.
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada: "Despicable What These Doctors Have Done"
Lori P. is extremely upset that she was exposed to Hepatits B, C and HIV through procedures performed at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. Lori has fibromyalgia and post traumatic stress disorder and, during the time she was treated at the Endoscopy Center, had numerous procedures. She says she still cannot believe that her doctors exposed her to such serious diseases.
Endoscopy Hepatitis C: Tragic Stories Are Emerging
Imagine the shock and horror of getting a medical letter addressed to your husband, warning him that he may have contracted hepatitis C from an infected syringe, and recommending he be tested right away.
Endoscopy Patients Anxious about Hepatitis B, C and HIV
Since news broke about the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, patients of the clinic have written to LawyersandSettlements to express their anger, concern and frustration about their predicament. Many say they feel violated and suffer from anxiety about their possible health problems.
Hepatitis C in Nevada
As is often the case when news of a health violation breaks, the news gets worse before it gets better. Not more than a week after it was revealed that an outpatient clinic in Nevada had been investigated with regard to six cases of hepatitis C potentially caused by the re-use of syringes, comes news that the patients of six other centers may be at risk.
Hepatitis in the News:
JUN-05-08: The Southern Nevada Health District has concluded its investigation into the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. [KTNV: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]JUN-03-08: The president of the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners says that the investigation into the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada is progressing. [PE: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
JUN-01-08: Investigators looking into the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada say the investigation has been slowed by clinic workers who refuse to cooperate. Eighty-four cases of Hepatitis C have been linked to the center. [KOLO: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAY-22-08: The Southern Nevada Health District has linked four hepatitis C cases from the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada to one person. Five people contracted hepatitis C from the center on September 21, 2007. [NOW: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAY-15-08: Dipak Desai, principle owner and physician at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada has been barred from practicing medicine. The clinic has been fined a half-million dollars. [NEWS REVIEW: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAY-09-08: Patients of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada are upset that the investigation is taking so long. Meanwhile, up to 10,000 people may be missing from the center's records. [NOW: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAY-09-08: An additional 77 people who were treated at the Endoscopy Center, have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, bringing the total to 85. [MSNBC: HEPATITIS OUTBREAK]
APR-18-08: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is seeking $26 million in emergency funds from Congress to help deal with the hepatitis C crisis in Southern Nevada. [LV SUN: HEPATITIS OUTBREAK]
APR-2-08: A report issued by the Southern Nevada Health District on practices at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada has uncovered more shortcuts used by the staff that endangered patients' lives. [LAS VEGAS SUN: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAR-20-08: A Las Vegas woman has filed the first wrongful death lawsuit against The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada claiming the center's negligence caused the death of her husband. [LAS VEGAS NOW: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
MAR-19-08: Further investigation into the hepatitis C outbreak in Nevada has found a seventh case, this one linked to another endoscopy center owned by Dr. Dipak Desai. [UNITED PRESS: HEPATITIS OUTBREAK]
MAR-11-08: Class action lawsuit filed March 10, 2008, naming the State of Nevada, Clark County, State Medical Board of Nevada, and the Mutual Insurance Company, responsible for insuring the centers and the doctors practicing at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, 700 Shadow Lane; Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center, 4275 S. Burnham; Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, 4275 S. Burnham; Spanish Hills Surgical Center, 5915 S. Rainbow Blvd.; Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, 2610 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson; and Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, 1815 E. Lake Mead Blvd. [KTNV NEWS: ENDOSCOPY CENTER]
