Mar

9

Nevada state health officials have stopped Dr. Dipak Desai, the owner of an famous endoscopy center in Las Vegas. Dr. Desai and an associate Vishvinder Sharma are under suspicion of committing medical malpractice by putting the lives of over 40,000 patients in danger of contracting hepatitis C.

The authorities believe that Dr Desai and his clinic had been using unsafe and unhygienic syringes, often reusing disposable syringes as well as single-use anesthesia vials on multiple patients. Several nurses associated with the clinic have surrendered their licenses and are cooperating with the authorities. The nurses and the staff have so far told the authorities that Dr. Desai and the management had ordered them to continue using unsafe parctices.

The scandal came to light when

1. several cases of hepatitis C were reported a few months ago. The county officials became suspicious when they suddenly found 6 active cases of hepatitis C in their county, a number 3 times more than the typical 2 cases per year.

2. Further investigation revealed that 5 of those 6 acute cases had had medical procedures on the same day.

3. Additional genetic tests revealed that 4 of those 6 acute cases had the same source, meaning the same syringe was used

4. Just as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV can also be transmitted by similar unsafe practices, so now the county is requesting 40,000 patients who have had some or other procedure at the clinic during last 4 years, to get tested to rule out any ill effects from the procedures.

There is some blame that has landed at the state regulatory agency’s door as well. The agency that is in charge of inspecting outpatient clinics such as Dr. Desai’s, has fallen behind in schedule and had not inspected Dr. Desai’s endoscopy clinic since the year 2001.

Patients and city councilmen of Las Vegas contended that it wasn’t Dr. Desai’s cost-cutting measures, but his greed that led him astray in his medical practice. The reuse of those syringe, they said, saved mere pennies, but the potential complications and the implications for the overall healthcare system might cost the local county a lot more than pennies. As for Desai, he has currently surrendered his license, but seems hopeful that he will get out of the mess. He ran an advertisement in the local newspaper telling his patients that there were no unsafe practices at his clinic and that he was following recommendations of the local authorities.


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5 Comments so far

  1. High-end Surgeries - the next big outsourcing wave for India : It’s Indiatime on April 4, 2008 6:22 am

    [...] Las Vegas NRI doctor under scanner for exposing 40000 patients to hepatitis C [...]

  2. Afzal Hasan on September 2, 2008 3:58 pm

    Respected sir,
    i am affected by hepatitus B surface antigen sice last 2/12 years please help me what i do
    thank yo
    afzal hasan
    cont. 9324367549

  3. Venkatasubramanian on October 8, 2008 2:58 pm

    sir,

    my father affected HCV in lever for last 2 years, but in last years he was very normal, but in last three months he had lot of problems, his abdomen and legs are become bulgy and he feeel so tired, any treatment for HCV at final stage

    Regards,
    I.venkatesh
    PH: 09943277465

  4. George Kottackakathu on January 8, 2009 1:57 pm

    Hello all,

    These unscrupulous God forsaken idiots of greed belonging to what ever nationality should be condemned for man slaughter and hanged until death without any trial.

    Prayers to all the victims

    Best Regards,

    george Kottackakathu
    ( a proud Indian)
    +919944904304

  5. Pavan Kabra on January 17, 2009 12:31 pm

    Dear sir,
    i am affected by hepatitus B surface antigen sice last Jan 2005 please help me what i do
    thank yo

    pavan kabra
    cont. 9229209230

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