A New Jersey board of medical examiners temporarily revoked the license of an oncologist whose clinic is suspected to be the source of a Hepatitis B outbreak. At least five of Dr. Parvez Dara's patients contracted Hepatitis B, provoking an investigation and a safety alert by New Jersey health officials.
Health inspectors described seeing unsterilized and unsanitary conditions at the doctor's Toms River clinic. There was blood on the floor of the room where Dr. Dara administered chemotherapy treatments to his patients. Inspectors also found blood inside the bin used to store blood vials. The saline and gauze were unsterilized, and medication vials had been left open. Inspectors also found violations that involved the use of contaminated pens, counter tops, and refrigerators; misuse of antibiotics, and other violations. In March, health officials sent a letter to more than 3,000 patients who were being treated by Dara asking them to get themselves tested for hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. At least five of his patients tested positive for hepatitis B.
Attorneys for the doctor insisted that there is no direct evidence linking the five hepatitis cases to Dr. Dara’s office. They also suggested that the patients could have contracted the disease at a hospital shared by them. The attorney is asking for Dara’s license to be reinstated or, at least, for him to be allowed to conduct examinations and consultations.
Hepatitis B is a highly infectious disease that affects the liver. It is up to one hundred times more infectious than the HIV virus, and can result in liver cirrhosis, inflammation, and liver cancer. It is primarily transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. Common modes of transmission include:
- Unprotected sex with a person who has Hepatitis B
- Sharing needles
- Sharing tooth brushes and razors
- Transfusion of infected blood
- Perinatal infections in which the disease is transmitted from the mother to a baby at birth
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B can include medications that can be very expensive. People who develop liver cancer as a result of prolonged hepatitis B infection may die within a few months of being diagnosed.
It appears that the staff at Dr. Dara's clinic lacked training in handling sterile medications and surgical products. Such negligence could well have exposed several of his patients to an infectious disease. Patients should not have to worry that being treated in a doctor’s clinic will expose you to a deadly infection.
Medical Malpractice
A medical malpractice lawsuit can help hold a healthcare worker accountable for negligence that results in medical injuries to patients. It is common for people to blame medical malpractice attorneys for a lot of ills, including the rising cost of insurance, and the flight of doctors outside the state, but all too often, unfortunately, it is only the risk of a lawsuit that ensures health care professionals exercise care in the treatment of their patients.
If you've been injured by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional, a medical malpractice attorney can help you obtain justice and recover your rightful compensation. The experienced attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP have helped thousands of victims of negligence receive justice. Contact a medical malpractice attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.