Triage Staffing Sued Over Hep C Outbreak

Triage Staffing Inc. faces a lawsuit that claims it was negligent in hiring the health care worker who is suspected of causing the hepatitis C outbreak at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.

Lead plaintiff Robert Fowler, who filed the complaint in federal court in Nebraska, claims that Triage was negligent for hiring David Kwiatkowski, who has been employed as a travelling medical technician in at least eight states since 2007, according to Foster’s Daily Democrat. Kwiatkowski is accused of spreading the liver disease by stealing hospital syringes, injecting himself with the powerful narcotic fentanyl, and then returning the tainted syringes to be used on patients.

Fowler claims that Triage neglected its duty to protect members of the public from Kwiatkowski, given his “likelihood of causing harm,” according to Foster’s.

Triage is a staffing company that hires healthcare workers called “travelers” and provides them with short-term contract work at hospitals throughout the U.S.

Federal investigators say that Kwiatkowski tested positive for hepatitis C as early as June 2010 and are continuing to do a background check to gather a full employment history, according to Foster’s.

New Hampshire health officials also said that they are casting a wider net to find people who may have contracted hepatitis C from Kwiatkowski, according to USA Today. They recommend testing for anyone who had surgery from April 1, 2011, to May 25, 2012, at Exeter Hospital or who was admitted into its intensive care unit. This new recommendation covers nearly 6,000 patients, which is a major increase from the initial 1,300.

If you suspect that you may have been infected in connection to this outbreak, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if you may be able to pursue an Exeter Hospital hepatitis C lawsuit. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

Tags: