Lawsuit claims hundreds exposed to HIV, Hepatitis at Tulane Med Ctr

[Guest guest]

http://www.wwl.com/Lawsuit-claims-hundreds-exposed-to-HIV--Hepatitis-/9325714

Posted: Thursday, 03 March 2011 2:00PM

Lawsuit claims hundreds exposed to HIV, Hepatitis at Tulane Med Ctr

Reporting

A class-action lawsuit filed against Tulane University Medical Center alleges

the hospital possibly exposed patients to HIV and Hepatitis B and C because a

medical instrument wasn't properly sterilized.

Kara s is the attorney representing the plaintiffs. She says the

university sent her clients letters letting them know that an endoscope, a

device used for colonoscopies and other procedures, wasn't sterilized at the

proper temperature, resulting in a risk of infection.

She said the letter specified a time frame of October 7 to December 1.

" They were devastated, terrified, " s said of her clients. " They describe a

feeling of not wanting to be touched, not wanting to touch anyone. "

Although none of her clients so far have tested positive for any of the diseases

they were potentially exposed to, s says they won't know for certain for

months.

" I'm told by infectious disease doctors that these three particularly infectious

diseases have what's called a latency period. It can be anywhere from a couple

of weeks to six months, " s said. Potentially, a patient in this case may

not know until June if they are positive for HIV or Hepatitis B or C until June.

s said they haven't determined an amount for damages, since they won't

know what the damages are until they're past the latency period. She also said

there could be possibly more than a hundred other patients impacted by this.

s said anyone who was a patient who was tested with an endoscope at Tulane

University Medical center between October 7 and December 1, 2010, should contact

a doctor and an attorney if they're interested in joining the class-action.

Tulane University Medical Center issued the following statement:

Tulane Medical Center recently found during a routine maintenance inspection

that one of several steps used in disinfecting some endoscopes and bronchoscopes

for procedures conducted between October 7 and December 1, 2010 at its downtown

facility was not being performed at the appropriate temperature as recommended

by the manufacturer. Once this was discovered it was remediated immediately.

Leading authorities on infection rate standards, including the Louisiana

Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section, agree the risk

of infection is minimal to non-existent. However, testing the patients who were

examined during this period utilizing the affected endoscopes or bronchoscopes

is a good precautionary measure. In the case where this minimal risk could

exist, we are in the process of contacting the patients (total - 360 patients)

to offer testing, free of charge, as well as counseling.

A call line has been established for patients to call (504) 988-1155 regarding

any concerns that they may have.

[Guest guest]

http://www.wwl.com/Lawsuit-claims-hundreds-exposed-to-HIV--Hepatitis-/9325714

Posted: Thursday, 03 March 2011 2:00PM

Lawsuit claims hundreds exposed to HIV, Hepatitis at Tulane Med Ctr

Reporting

A class-action lawsuit filed against Tulane University Medical Center alleges

the hospital possibly exposed patients to HIV and Hepatitis B and C because a

medical instrument wasn't properly sterilized.

Kara s is the attorney representing the plaintiffs. She says the

university sent her clients letters letting them know that an endoscope, a

device used for colonoscopies and other procedures, wasn't sterilized at the

proper temperature, resulting in a risk of infection.

She said the letter specified a time frame of October 7 to December 1.

" They were devastated, terrified, " s said of her clients. " They describe a

feeling of not wanting to be touched, not wanting to touch anyone. "

Although none of her clients so far have tested positive for any of the diseases

they were potentially exposed to, s says they won't know for certain for

months.

" I'm told by infectious disease doctors that these three particularly infectious

diseases have what's called a latency period. It can be anywhere from a couple

of weeks to six months, " s said. Potentially, a patient in this case may

not know until June if they are positive for HIV or Hepatitis B or C until June.

s said they haven't determined an amount for damages, since they won't

know what the damages are until they're past the latency period. She also said

there could be possibly more than a hundred other patients impacted by this.

s said anyone who was a patient who was tested with an endoscope at Tulane

University Medical center between October 7 and December 1, 2010, should contact

a doctor and an attorney if they're interested in joining the class-action.

Tulane University Medical Center issued the following statement:

Tulane Medical Center recently found during a routine maintenance inspection

that one of several steps used in disinfecting some endoscopes and bronchoscopes

for procedures conducted between October 7 and December 1, 2010 at its downtown

facility was not being performed at the appropriate temperature as recommended

by the manufacturer. Once this was discovered it was remediated immediately.

Leading authorities on infection rate standards, including the Louisiana

Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section, agree the risk

of infection is minimal to non-existent. However, testing the patients who were

examined during this period utilizing the affected endoscopes or bronchoscopes

is a good precautionary measure. In the case where this minimal risk could

exist, we are in the process of contacting the patients (total - 360 patients)

to offer testing, free of charge, as well as counseling.

A call line has been established for patients to call (504) 988-1155 regarding

any concerns that they may have.