Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada

Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada is a private same day surgery facility localed in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned by Dr. Dipak Desai^[1] (65%),^[2] Dr. Eladio Carrera (14%)^[2] Dr. Clifford Carrol and Dr. Vishvinder Sharma.^[3]

In February 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District sent out notices to 40,000 patients informing them that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis C and HIV at the center from "unsafe injection practices related to the administration of anesthesia medication might have exposed patients to the blood of other patients".^[4] This was at the time, the largest such notification in the United States. This was the result of an investigation by the health district, the Nevada State Bureau of Licensure and Certification (BLC) and with consultation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^[5] Prior to this, the largest outbreak, linked to bad injection practices, occurred in Fremont, Nebraska, where 99 cancer patients were infected at an oncology center from 2001 to 2002. At least one died.^[6]

2008 Hepatitis C outbreak

The Southern Nevada Health District began an investigation into the center in January 2008 after receiving reports of two Hepatitis C cases, the normal amount that the Health District sees in an average year.^[7] The common factor was the Endoscopy Center. Later the Health District determined that five additional patients apparently contracted Hepatitis C after being patients there on the same day in September.^[1] The exposures are believed to have occurred between March 2004 and January 11, 2008.^[5]

The city of Las Vegas closed the center on February 29, 2008 when it issued an emergency suspension of its business license. The city denied an appeal of this suspension on March 3, 2008.^[8]

Investigations by the FBI and the Nevada Attorney General were announced to investigate the practices at the center.^[9]

On March 3, 2008 it was announced that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County District Attorney would be conducting an investigation into shoddy medical practices that exposed patients to potentially deadly infections.^[9]

On July 17, 2009 the center, along with others involved in the problem, filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

Related centers

Other centers involved in the investigation include:

• Gastroenterology Center of Nevada^[2] - multiple locations
• Spanish Hills Surgical Center^[2]
• Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center^[10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada Results in Shake-Up at State Agencies". NEWSINFERNO.COM. 2008-03-18. http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/2746. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Clinic owner found success". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2008-02-29. http://www.lvrj.com/news/16105787.html. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
3. ^ Allen, Marshall (2008-03-25). "Clinic doctors finally to talk — under oath". Las Vegas Sun. http://lvsun.com/news/2008/mar/25/clinic-doctors-nally-talk-under-oath/. Retrieved 2008-03-27. 
4. ^ "Endoscopy Center Of Southern Nevada Patients Wait On Test Results". 2008-03-10. http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7994430. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Hepatitis C Investigation". Southern Nevada Health District. http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/outbreaks/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
6. ^ HENNESSEY, KATHLEEN (2008-03-05). "Vegas Clinic May Have Sickened Thousands". The Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i8B3EkgPbRHRxqB6l6BG6ZL1bn9QD8V7JGQ01. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
7. ^ Powers, Ashley (2008-03-16). "Hepatitis C outbreak tied to alleged cost-cutting; 40,000 patients of a clinic that reused vials and syringes are told to get tested for HIV too". Los Angeles Times (LexisNexis News). http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100021150&docId=l:760432870&start=10. Retrieved 2008-03-19. 
8. ^ "City of Las Vegas Denies Appeal Of Endoscopy Center Of Southern Nevada, Also Known As Gastroenterology Center of Nevada Center Remains Closed". Las Vegas, Nevada. 2008-03-03. http://lasvegasnevada.gov/Publications/14500.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Criminal inquiry starts". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2008-03-04. http://www.lvrj.com/news/16209472.html. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
10. ^ "Health District Confirms 7th Hep C Case". Fox 5 News (KVVU.com). 2008-03-18. http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/15634900/detail.html. Retrieved 2008-03-18.