At least 10 innocent patients who underwent surgery at Rose Medical Center in Denver have contracted Hepatitis C. Thousands of additional patients were potentially exposed as well. Apparently, a surgical technician at the hospital stole syringes containing Fentanyl, a powerful painkiller and replaced them with her own used syringes filled with saline.
Hepatitis C is a serious condition which can permanently affect the liver and require permanent treatment and monitoring. Unfortunately for these victims, Colorado has medical malpractice caps which limit recovery. Republicans in the Colorado legislature defeated an attempt to raise the cap earlier this year.
Aside from the question of why the hospital had no drug screening for its surgical personnel, former patients are questioning the lack of safety systems and procedures within the hospital to prevent dirty needles from ever being used on a patient.
Drug addiction among medical personnel is widespread and commonly known to all hospitals. Generally, signatures are required to remove drugs and syringes for use on a patient and rules are in place which allow only a single use of a syringe. It will be interesting to find out as the investigation continues as to whether or not such procedures and safeguards were in place and how well the hospital monitored the safeguards.
Ironically, the hospital was aware the the surgical technician had Hepatitis C when she was hired. Did they wonder how she contracted it? Her Myspace page described her “fascination with needles”. So much for the thoroughness of background screening by the hospital’s personnel department!
