Sokolove Law is Fighting for the Rights of Victims of the Exeter Hospital Hep C Outbreak

WELLESLEY, MA (July 26 2012) -- The Hepatitis C outbreak at New Hampshire’s Exeter Hospital may just be the tip of the iceberg: Federal prosecutors allege that the man suspected of infecting patients in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab worked as a medical technician in at least eight states during the past five years.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire health officials are now urging Hepatitis C testing for an additional 6,000 people who had surgery or were admitted to intensive care at Exeter Hospital from April 1, 2011 and May 25, 2012.

Both these developments suggest that the number of victims infected with Hepatitis C, a potentially fatal liver disease spread through blood, is likely to rise in the coming weeks.

“Sokolove Law for over 30 years has been fighting for patient safety. This is an appalling situation for the victims of this tragic outbreak and their families,” said Gabe Miller, General Counsel and Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law.

David Kwiatkowski, 33, the medical technician charged last week with a federal drug crime, is suspected of spreading the liver disease to at least 33 patients by stealing hospital syringes, injecting himself with the powerful narcotic fentanyl, and then returning the tainted syringes to be used in medical procedures.

Federal prosecutors are investigating cases of Hepatitis C at the other hospitals where Kwiatkowski was employed since they say he may have been infected with the disease since at least June 2010.

The staffing company believed to have employed the suspect, Triage Staffing Inc., is being sued for allegedly neglecting its duty to protect the public from Kwiatkowski.

There are currently 24 medical malpractice lawsuits being filed, including a potential class action involving 90 people, according to USA Today.

Media Contact:

Don Martelli
d50 Media
781-263-5514
dmartelli@d50media.com 

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