South Dakota finds clinic reused single-use supplies on patients

[Liberal_in_LA]

South Dakota finds clinic reused single-use supplies on patients

By Greg Morrison
CNN

(CNN) -- More than 5,000 patients at a South Dakota urology clinic may have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV after the facility reused single-use medical products on them, state health officials said.

The Siouxland Urology Center in Dakota Dunes has been ordered to contact nearly 5,700 former patients treated at the facility since 2002.

A routine inspection found the facility was reusing sterile saline bags, tubing and other medical supplies from cytoscopies, a diagnostic procedure that looks at the lower urinary tract.

"We witnessed the practice while we were in the facility," during a January inspection, said Barb Buhler of the South Dakota Health Department. Siouxland Urology has since been put under a provisional license and has been very cooperative, according to state officials.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/17/urology.patients/index.html

[XemaSab]

1. What do you expect with a medical practice named

"Sue-land?" :shrug:

:hide:

[Indy Lurker]

2. Have you ever tried to get medical help in South Dakota?

There's only two cities in the whole state with medical help.

(but they did place one at each end)

[WVRICK13]

3. NO EXCUSE

is acceptable for such gross negligence. In fact, the administrators need to be charged with reckless endangerment and then face civil suits without the agencies insurance.