Access To Justice

News is breaking that a Florida nurse has resigned amid allegations that she reused disposable IV equipment.  On Thursday, CNN reported that as many as 1800 patients have been notified that they may be at risk for infection of diseases including HIV and Hepatitis.  The controversy occurred at the Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

According to reports the hospital was tipped off by an anonymous caller that the nurse was reusing saline bags and tubing for IV chemical tests on different patients, potentially exposing the patients to risk by transferring one person’s infection to another.  A hospital spokesperson noted that the reuse of disposable equipment violates a “universal standard policy”.

As reported by CNN:

The hospital says a review of medical files from the nurse’s date of employment, January 2004, until today identified 1,851 patients to whom the nurse administered cardiac chemical tests. These patients are being urged to get tested for the hepatitis B and C virus, and HIV.

Police are no investigating whether criminal charges will apply.

Sadly, the Florida case is not the first of its kind.

In July police filed charges against a medical technician in Colorado accused of exposing patients to hepatitis C.  The worker was injecting herself with patients’ pain medication and then refilling the syringes with saline.  They syringes were then used on the patients exposing them to hepatitis C which the worker acknowledged she was infected with.  All told, 19 former patients test positive for hepatitis C, which affects the liver.

If you or someone you know is at risk of infection because of a health care worker’s negligence.  You may have certain legal rights.  But these cases often involve time limits on when you can assert those rights, so if you believe you have been a victim.  Contact us today.