New York Patient Tests Positive for Hep B After Surgery

Brooklyn Patient Contracts Hep B After Surgery: New York Medical Malpractice.

News sources are reporting that a Brooklyn woman has tested positive for hepatitis B after having a surgical procedure at a New Jersey surgical center in Saddle Brook.  In a previous blog post, I reported that the surgical center had sent a letter warning more than 3,000 patients whom had procedures between January and September 2018 to get tested for hep B.  This woman had a procedure during that timeframe and tested positive.  This is a very serious instance of New York medical malpractice.

The surgical center was the HealthPlus Surgery Center.  It claimed that there was sterilization issues that were not detected in time due to lapses in infection control and cleaning instruments.  This also included the injection of medications to patients which may have been exposed to patients with blood borne pathogens such as hep B.  

Here, the patient had tested negative for hep B before the surgery as part of normal pre-op testing.  However, after the surgery and the warning letters went out, she testified positive for hep B which her lawyer believes was caused by the surgical center.  This is a horrible cause of New York medical malpractice and has already resulted in a class action lawsuit.  This patient will have a separate cause of action available to her.

The New Jersey Department of Health has also been in an investigation into the improper sterilization and the potential claims.  The surgical center was actually shut down by the DOH given how egregious the conduct was.  Several staff members were determined to be using the improper protocol or failing to complete cleaning properly.  

This is a huge instance of medical malpractice and a horrifying one at that!  This surgical center should be held liable for her injuries, as well as for all 3,000 patients who undoubtably have serious apprehension and fear of this contamination.  But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.