I applaud the City of LV for closing down the Endoscopy Center. I know of these doctors and they are arrogant beyond definition. They have potentially ruined the lives of so many. I hope the other offices are closed as well. Because of the sub-standard medical care in general in LV, I relocated out of state. I am not surprised this has happened. I am aware that this office also reused biopsy forceps as well as syringes and medication vials and hope further investigation will proceed. None of these physicians should be allowed to practice medicine ever again. They knowlingly committed these agregious acts and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!

Comment by Em — February 29, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

I personally appreciate Mayor Goodman once again looking after our well being. Knowing that my ability to be with my family in good health may have been seriously compromised is just unthinkable to me. Knowing that my life has been potentially compromised for pennies in profit to the center’s bottom line is, in my mind, criminal in the broadest sense of the word. I want to hear what the Clark County Medical Society and their disciplinary board of medical examiners are planning in order to address this outrageous turn of events. My experience with the center back in 2004 left me thinking that I had never dealt with a more arrogant and shoddy operation than this. I was scheduled for an endoscopy and when I signed in and paid my co-pay, the receptionist insisted I was there for a colonoscopy! This should have been my clue.

Comment by Callie — February 29, 2008 @ 8:44 pm

Does anyone know what the date in September was exactly… the one where the five patients were seen on the same day and are now infected? I saw Dr. Death between the week of the 25th… not sure of the exact date.. trying to get my records…. so does anyone know the exact date for the five confirmed as of yet?

Comment by B — February 29, 2008 @ 8:46 pm

I feel bad for the good doctors. It’s unfortunate the senior mgmt who owns such a large practice, is nickel and diming and ruining peoples lives. the senior doctors should be held accountable.

Comment by ray — February 29, 2008 @ 9:06 pm

I am HIV + and had a procedure done at the center about two years ago. I don’t want to alarm anyone, but I did tell them of my HIV status.

I certainly don’t feel any guilt, as I did my part, the Clinic didn’t……….

I had blood drawn for a hepatitis test yesterday, keep your fingers crossed for me, it would be drastic to now have another virus to deal with.

Comment by Charlie Strachan — February 29, 2008 @ 10:02 pm

What will be interesting is to see if ANYONE gets in trouble. In VEGAS it’s simply a matter of having the money to pay, I know this for a fact. One thing that this points out, is that in Nevada, being a right to work state, there is a catch 22, you lose your job if you do not follow orders, and the Board of Nursing, a REAL study in cowardice, punishes you if you do. It’s a lousy situation. What I learned is that if you are accused of something minor you will be made an example of and if like two major hospitals or several of our fine doctors, you are convicted of fraud, a good lawyer can make it go away. Vegas isn’t sin ciry because of sex, drugs or alcohol, but POLITICS!!!

Comment by RN — February 29, 2008 @ 10:16 pm

I had a procedure in 2005 at this facility and then shortly after became pregnant. I am worried sick not only for my health but that of my beautiful child. This entire ordeal sickens me.
I am dumbfounded by the ignorance of these doctors and am amazed that not one RN or surgical tech came forward to warn the public when this first began. Where are their ethics??? No job would be worth the guilt I would carry around FOREVER had it been me that was asked to do something like this. I believe each and every worker that knowingly took part in this should be held criminally responsible.

I am to be tested tomorrow - Pray for me. Please do so also for my father as well. He not only was exposed once in 2004 but again in 2006. These doctors actions could potentially destroy my entire family as a whole. I will be praying for everyone else that was exposed as well. May all our results be negative!!

Comment by Laura — February 29, 2008 @ 11:04 pm

I hope that you come back negative Charlie. You are right that TWO viruses is a little tougher to deal with than one. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Meanwhile I would like to challenge everyone to learn a little bit more about Hepatitis C! Don’t misunderstand as I am also appalled that this could have happened in this supposedly enlightened day and age of universal precautions. Perhaps all this happened (sadly) so that more of you might get educated about Hepatitis C! It is reaching epidemic proportions in our country and most people don’t know the differences between Hep A, B, C, D, E and G.

Hepatitis C requires a BLOOD TO BLOOD transmission. It is the most common chronic blood borne virus in the U.S. today. There are an estimated 5 million Americans with Hepatitis C (FIVE times more than HIV) Bet you didn’t know that! Only about 1 million know they have it. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. 2/3 of patients will die waiting for a liver transplant because there are not enough organs to go around (please sign your donor cards!) There are an estimated 200 million people with Hepatitis C worldwide.

You should be tested for Hepatitis C if you:
* received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992
* were notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
* have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented only one time many years ago (or snorted any drugs)
* were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
* have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
* have had tattoos or body piercings
* had sexual activity that involved contact with blood
* have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors
* are a veteran (especially Viet Nam)
* have shared razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. with an infected person
* are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or first responders
* also 5% of babies born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C
* have ever been incarcerated

Doctors do NOT test for Hepatitis C on annual physicals or routine exams. You have to ASK TO BE TESTED!

You do not have any symptoms that damage is being done until the latter stages of the disease and that can be from 10 to 40 years! That is why it is called the *silent killer* There are treatments for Hepatitis C that are 45-80% successful depending on your genotype.

There are an estimated 4 million of you walking around with it that don’t know you have it and can be inadvertently spreading it. Whether at the beauty salon where an HCV+ person was nicked and then you were nicked with the same instrument (Hep C does not die when it hits the air unlike HIV) and can live on surfaces for up to 4 days plus. Ignorance is not bliss.

Know your Hepatitis C status!
GET TESTED!

There are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B. There is NOT a vaccine for Hepatitis C!

Please GET TESTED for HEPATITIS C! It is a simple blood test and can be added to your routine tests the next time you see your doctor. Just ask him/her to add it! Take care and be your OWN advocates.

Comment by PSPam — February 29, 2008 @ 11:09 pm

This scandal made the TV news here in Germany last night. Since my sister, an LV resident, had an endoscopic examination done just a short time ago, we were very much taken aback. Now we’re waiting for an “all clear” from her that she is not among the potential victims. Good luck to all the others, too!

Comment by Jim Lorenz — March 1, 2008 @ 2:02 am

my wife had two of these procedures done there, we obtained a copy of the medical record and was surprised to see that a complete colonoscopy was done and several polyps removed this is a total lie a fraud never had any such procedure donejust two endoscopies only I was also seen at there henderson horizon ridge office for a verbal consult only they seemed to busy so I left I was charged for a visit but to my surprise I obtained a copy of my medical record and found a host of clinical findings test etc ? I never even had a chance of a hand shake. so the saving of penneys on needles and vials of med’s go,s a lot deeper there should be a complete investigation of the entire practice not just this one office run by this group of doctors this group of docters run many office in the Las Vegas area they are all run the same way, so to sum$$$ it up saving penneys on needles, vials of med’s, false medical reports–ins fraud ??? what else can be revealed under a total investigation ! this Dr.Dipak Desai worth over a hundred million $$$$ hides behind his corporation. Joe

Comment by joe — March 1, 2008 @ 3:49 am

I used the Endoscopy Center sometime around the late nineties. I had a severe acid indigestion problem and I had my stomach scoped for ulcers or Pylori. I remember being put under and took a bus home from the center. I find it an absolute disgrace that they used unsafe practices in anethesia. How is this possible. How could doctors and health care professionals go along with this. The joke is their right around the corner from Las Health District. Now I wonder if this was going on when I used the center.

Comment by Mike Davis — March 1, 2008 @ 6:11 am

I am applaud listening to something like this.A Doctor is suppose to be a responsible citizen,this goes against everything the profession stands for.To put so many lives at risk for years,also the nurses and anyone whom worked in this facility and had knowledge of this should be held responsible just as the doctors.It’s sickening when you find out that your Doctor could be your murderer,how many lives will be affected.I think they should be used as examples,put in jail and given the death penalty and maybe this will never happen again.It’s sad when people turn against one another like this.We are all following this case very closely to see how this will be proscuted.

Comment by melinda — March 1, 2008 @ 6:43 am

Re: ENDOSCOPY CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Please provide complete details for those of us who are victims of this medical center’s unhealthy and unsafe practice, especially that we have been exposed to very serious diseases. Most importantly, is to inform the public that the search is for patients that were treated from March 2004 through Jan 2008 and provide the name of the attornies handling the class-action lawsuit.

Please expose the names of all personnel at this clinic, including doctors, nurses, lab techs, and ADM staff,who have inflicted this harm on us and also provide the names of staff who were aware of this unhealthy practice yet remained silent. These disgusting people need to be identified. The only comfort I have now is knowing that each and every personnel involved will one day bring upon their own ill-health, or one day watch the person they love suffer in pain from a disease that could have been prevented. There is a golden rule in life, “You get back what you give.” These low-minded, empty-hearted animals, that dare to call themselves human beings, will get back the grief they have inflicted a thousand fold. Sad, that the family members of these creatures will also suffer the consequences of their greedy behavior.

Karma is an interesting concept. By-the-way, if I remember correctly, Dr. Desai’s wife is a pulmonary specialist and although she is in a different office I find myself wondering how much like her husband is her medical ethics—as a matter of fact, I will now generalize my fear and avoid any doctor with the name “Desai”.

Dr. Maria
Las Vegas

Comment by Dr. Maria — March 1, 2008 @ 1:36 pm

Thank you Mayor Goodman for closing that “clinic”!
The Health District is a joke. They let these people continue to be open even after this went public. Shadow Lane should have been shut down before this went public.

Now….what about the other clinics that these doctors are involved with? Burnham location? The soon to open Spring Valley location at Rainbow & Oquendo?

Here’s another one to investigate, what about the hospitals that perform endoscopy proceedures with the doctors from the Gastroenterolgy Center of Nevada?
I had an endoscopy done at Summerlin Hospital under Dr. Weisz from the Gastroenterolgy Center.
I know that Summerlin Hospital’s Endoscopy Center is separate from these guys, but who supplies the equipment? Summerlin or the doctor? Who supplies the anesthesiologist and his/her syringes and vials of anesthesia medication?

With all these questions and no help form the Health District….I’m going to get tested even though I didn’t have my endoscopy at that clinic, but just because my doctor is from the Gastroenterolgy Center of Nevada.

40,000 people could be the tip of the iceberg and I’m not waiting for the Health District to get off their butt to investigate connections with these doctors that are beyond the Shadow Lane clinic.

Comment by J.R. — March 1, 2008 @ 1:39 pm

I never liked the dr. I went to in this group. I filed a complaint against him THEN (2006). I called my ins. company and told them if they had listened to me they wouldn’t be paying for ALL these blood tests. I am glad they are out of business - for NOW of course - and who knows what other medical establishments use similar “cost affective” measures? Like many here I am hoping my blood test comes back negative. And I’ll be running right out there to have ANOTHER medical procedure done - NOT!!

Comment by Concerned — March 1, 2008 @ 1:43 pm

As a physician I have been following the details from the time the story broke. At first I assumed it must have been one rogue employee, perhaps someone who lied about having medical training. Even when I learned that it was a widespread procedural problem I was confused by how it could have happened. How does one repetitively contaminate a vial? I assumed later it was a horrible mistake that somehow everyone just did not see. I asked myself if such things were possible in my office. It was all just to horrible.
I was truly shocked to learn that physician were not only aware of the problem but condoned it and insisted that it continue. If that is the horrible truth then this is not a medical issue it is a criminal issue.
The Las Vegas medical community is a good one. I have no problem finding good doctors to refer to in all specialties. I know there are always some complaints but in general I am proud of my fellow doctors. I seriously doubt, if these charges are true, that anyone will be less forgiving than the physicians of Las Vegas who are slimed by the actions of these doctors. They will have betrayed the public trust and damaged the rest of us by association.
These men should pray no physician sits on the jury at their trial.

Comment by mike — March 1, 2008 @ 6:30 pm

In follow up to my comment above I’d like to add that this is a really really obvious problem with technique. I find it impossible to imagine that any physician, even with marginal training, would do what was done here even once! I don’t blame people for worrying but this simply is too egregious an error to occur elsewhere on a regular basis. I realize that sounds silly in view of the many patients that are anguishing over the blood test results that are being done but I know physicians are even more shocked than the general population over what has occurred here. I am still having trouble believing what has happened here.

Comment by mike — March 1, 2008 @ 6:42 pm

What exactly does this article mean by the statement “you don’t see these types of acute Hep C outbreaks very often” WAKE UP AMERICA, Hepatitis C is an EPIDEMIC RIGHT NOW, 100 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE HEP C, 4 times more people have Hep C than HIV, 69% of Vietnam Veterans have Hep C. Hep C is the leading cause for liver transplants in the US. 10,000 - 15,000 people DIE every year as a result of Hep C or complications from this disease. The 2-medication treatment (interferon and ribavirin) for Hep C currently being used has a mere 50% effective rate, while in Europe, it has been shown that adding a 3rd medication (protease inhibitor) to the treatment yeilds a 90% effective rate. The FDA has yet to approve the 3-med treatment program for Hep C, but it’s used for HIV and it WORKS. The government, pharmaceutical companies, and medical community need to step up and start treating this epidemic effectively so mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents…….can live full, productive lives. This disease IS NOT spread sexually, nor is it only spread by IV drug use as is proven by this article, by the cancer patients in IL who also became infected by reuse of syringes, and the organ transplant patients that received organs from an infected donor, and by the many other documented cases of Hep C resulting from poor medical practices!!!! HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE BEFORE THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENT, AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES GIVE THIS DEADLY DISEASE THE ATTENTION IT NEEDS AND DESERVES!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by LKDavis — March 1, 2008 @ 7:20 pm

Not long ago an organization named “Keep Our Doctors in Nevada”

pressured the Nevada Legislature into an emergency session and

persuaded the Nevada citizens to vote for medical malpractice

protection, all in the name of a phony “medical malpractice crisis.” Dr.

Dipak Desai and the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada were

behind the Keep Our Doctors in Nevada group, shelling out at least

$25,000 to buy protection from injured patients. As a result, medical

providers, INCLUDING DR. DESAI AND HIS CLINIC, are protected by

caps on damage awards. Does anyone now think $350,000 is

adequate compensation for the pain and suffering that will be

endured by any patient of Dr. Desai who contracts HIV/AIDS,

Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C?
Like many lawyers who represent injured medical patients, our law

firm, Myers & Gomel, fought against the caps, and I can tell you this

is precisely the type of situation we were concerned about when the

doctors and their insurance companies used the “Keep Our Doctors

in Nevada” fear campaign to achieve their selfish goal of protective

caps. The truth is we shouldn’t keep doctors like Dr. Desai in

Nevada, and doctors like Dr. Desai don’t deserve protective caps so

they can practice sub-standard medicine with no fear of a jury’s

verdict.
This is a real “medical malpractice crisis,” and it will not be the last

one unless and until doctors like Dr. Desai can be held accountable

in full for the pain and suffering caused by such blatant and

irresponsible malpractice. Nevada voters should demand that the

doctors’ special shield laws be repealed and that they be treated like

the rest of us.

Comment by myersandgomel — March 1, 2008 @ 7:51 pm

Totally disgusted with what happened. Contact lawyer at http://www.endocopycenterexposure.com . I don’t know if there will be any money in this but they should be held responsible.

Comment by Justin Simon — March 1, 2008 @ 8:30 pm

sorry i typed it wrong, its http://www.endoscopycenterexposure.com

Comment by Justin Simon — March 1, 2008 @ 8:32 pm

My husband had procedure there in June 2006 i dont know what to do, should all of us including our kid go for testing.and should we file lawsuit or not.

Comment by Sonia — March 1, 2008 @ 9:09 pm

has homeland security been informed. maybe desai is part of a terrorist group trying to kill us. why would employees go along with this- over a job- they should have reported this as soon as they were told to do it. what kind of people would worry about their jobs instead of fellow human beings. what has this world come to. the employees should have blown the whistle their souls far outweight a job. how can they sleep at night? i know i can’t- i too busy staying awake wondering if i have hiv or hep c.

Comment by carole — March 1, 2008 @ 10:46 pm

I have been a nurse for 13 years, relocated to Nevada in 06 and my husband had 2 procedures at this center. I understand the consequences of the disease process and am emotionally distraught over this whole ordeal. I can’t imagine any medical professional allowing this to take place. We are waiting for his test results as patiently as we can. The best thing to do is to educate yourself in preparation for the worst. HIV is something that may not show up for years in the blood…so now we have many years to worry. I am disheartened by this, and really saddened. The state/government should now step in and provide testing for all 40,000. This should not be a cost that we should be made to pay out of pocket!

Comment by Stacie — March 2, 2008 @ 7:26 pm

I can’t believe the state of Nevada allowed this facility to remain open after the situation was discovered. They waited for the City of Las Vegas to pull their business license. Apparently the Clark County District Health Department doesn’t have the authority to act. What authority do they have when it comes to protecting our health? Las Vegas can’t resolve the problems with the schools, roads, water, and now HEALTH! Too much graft and greed! My wife had two procedures done in October 2007 and now must worry once again…

Comment by Chuck — March 2, 2008 @ 7:43 pm

These scumbags deserve the DEATH PENALTY

Comment by James Page — March 2, 2008 @ 7:56 pm

the RN’s are Also Liable. they knew what was going on but continued to provide sub-standard care and were not Patient Advocates.

Comment by john marshall — March 2, 2008 @ 8:47 pm

As a former attorney and judge, now retired, I submit these “Doctors” should be under criminal indictment!

Comment by Robert Lynch — March 2, 2008 @ 9:35 pm

No wonder that three of the “so-called” physicians were foreigners.

Comment by Rob — March 2, 2008 @ 10:11 pm

These nurses and doctors should all receive the same treatment. They all knew better but ignored the right thing to do. What a disgrace to the medical profession.

Comment by Mel — March 2, 2008 @ 10:14 pm

I tried to make a comment about the physicians being foreigners, but the editor deleted them. Shame on you!

Comment by Mel — March 2, 2008 @ 10:15 pm

I am not from nevada, but I feel all your pains and anger. I get the goosebumps from reading about this. I always thought the world was a cruel and hellish place and this pretty much confirm it. Hope all is well with everyone who had been at the mercy of these greedy bastids.

Comment by matt — March 2, 2008 @ 10:46 pm

Doctors generally make really lousy business persons. Maybe it is an ego thing. And they all seem to buy into some clinic/real-estate/investment scheme.

I don’t know about Clifford Carrol, but I imagine the cultural backgrounds of Dipak Desai, Eladio Carrera, and Vishvinder Sharma never prepared them for a. some employees would refuse to recklessly endanger patients, b. employees would rat them out, and c. the resultant legal feeding frenzy.

Comment by ww — March 3, 2008 @ 5:38 am

Any physician or nurse who participated in this or knew about it and did not report it should lose their license to practice. I certainly would not want one of them taking care of me. A nurse who has refused to give medications when dosage was questionable and also reported wrongdoing where patient care was involved. Have a spine and take some responsibility-it’s your duty-M.D. and R.N.

Comment by maggie — March 3, 2008 @ 6:43 am

Work in vegas , vacation there , you’re weird .
stamp, stamp, double stamp weird.

Long b4 either the dirty needle crowd
(The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada for example)
or
The 14th century warrior of alah crowd (sept 11 2001 hijackers for example)
Showed up in vegas to do “bizzness” ,
I already knew the place attracted a specific type of human , The Weird type .
Sadly Dirty Needles alone won’t stop vegas ….

For stopping vegas , I’ll put 50 bucks on the RED ONE , Al Gore and “Global Warming” to shut vegas down.

NO water no power ..works for me .Come on AL (insert sound of dice hitting table)

Comment by Elvis — March 3, 2008 @ 6:55 am

I said, “36 red” and they thought I wanted to place a bet when I was actually talking about the number of spots on my junk.

Comment by Bensenville Butch — March 3, 2008 @ 8:02 am

Why the hell has it taken the Health District 4 years to uncover this?

Comment by Concerned — March 3, 2008 @ 8:48 am

If you were patient at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada between 03/01/04 and 01/01/08 treated with a syringe/needle or had a colonoscopy or upper gastronintestinal procedure, you have legal rights.

We are currently representing patients who have been victims of this gross negligence.

http://www.hepatitisclaimcenter.org/

Comment by Hepatitis Claim Center — March 3, 2008 @ 9:45 am

You can keep your govt sponsored health care!

All these foreign doctors should have the passports siezed and be charged with Attempted Murder!

Comment by Junk — March 3, 2008 @ 11:55 am

I would like to know the NAMES of the doctors involved. I know the name of ONE but I would like to know ALL their names - anyone have a list or know where we could find the names of these people who like to claim they are “doctors”?

Comment by Concerned — March 3, 2008 @ 12:22 pm

I am beyond horrified and outraged at the news of this medical facilities lack of responsibilty. There are certain places in which an individual should feel safe.This is so scary I cannot even begin to express how I feel about it. I hope that the people responsible are held as such. Now , we have one more thing to worry about. You can’t do anything or go anywhere anymore without taking extreme precautions, now you have to do it at the doctors office also. I will be praying for all of the people out there that may become victim to this horrible situation.

Comment by Jennifer Kennedy — March 3, 2008 @ 12:42 pm

Do we have Third World doctors practicing Third World medicine here? Several that I have been to have been difficult to understand because their English is so sketchy.

Comment by Mary — March 3, 2008 @ 1:22 pm

The business license for Endoscopy Center of Nevada was issued on 07/11/2000, Dr Dipak Desai owns over 50% of this facility since then. The owners of this facility is still practicing and owns Gastroenterology Center of Nevada. How did the Health District determine when the re-use of the syringe started ? I believe that they should take the license of each and every doctor that owns this facility and every single patient that were seen in this facility should all be tested for pre-caution. Imagine 40,000 patients were seen there from 2004-2008, how many had unprotected sex or transferred fluids to another person and infected them too. There are so many innocent victims and not everyone has the money or insurance to pay for these tests.

Comment by Carol — March 3, 2008 @ 3:42 pm

The Clinic Owners and the Staff that knew about these practices should be charged with attempted murder. This is not a Third World Country and these Doctors should get to practice again in Jail!!

Comment by GH — March 3, 2008 @ 4:53 pm

I am one of the forty thousand of potentially infected patients and I am awaiting test results. I am also a physician.
Infection from Hepatitis or HIV is a frightening prospect but what is also alarming to me is how quickly so many want to condemn these doctors and nurses. It is unclear at this point what role each of the staff at this clinic played in this tragedy. I want anyone who knowingly put patients at risk to be held accountable but let’s not generalize and act on fear, prejudice, and misinformation.

Comment by Dr. Laura — March 3, 2008 @ 7:06 pm

I am completely outraged and hurt by this situation. I agree with Carol’s comment #43. I’ve spent my whole life being cautious of germs and bacteria. I don’t share drinks, I’ve been celibate, all because I’m so scared of catching something. I feel like I’ve done everything possible to stay safe in today’s world, and now I am at risk for hepatitis and hiv. I am horrified by this and utterly scared. I feel so helpless. There’s nothing I can do but wait to hear my results. I am so sorry that anybody has to go through this. How could these people look at themselves in the mirror?

Comment by Dissapointed — March 3, 2008 @ 7:29 pm

I want to know where we can get more information. I was a patient of Dr. Desai’s before all of this went on. At that time he did an endoscopy on me in a room in his office. I had anesthesia, was he demanding the same type of cross contamination at that time? What makes the Health Dept. think it only started when they opened the Endoscopy Center? Also, was the anesthesiologist only employed by the Endoscopy Center? I’ve known where they actually travel from one ambulatory/surgical center to another. Did the anesthesiologist use the same practice at the other centers? We need alot more answers!!!

Comment by sd — March 3, 2008 @ 8:21 pm

[…] Las Vegas Now | Lawsuits Filed Against Closed Medical Center »   No Comments » […]

Pingback by Local Las Vegas >> Downtown » Las Vegas Now | Local Man Deals With Hepatitis Scare — March 3, 2008 @ 10:38 pm

I am a doctor and have had a colonoscopy at that center during the mentioned time period. I will be getting tested and retested, etc.

It is totatly shocking that this has been going on for as long as it has to save a few pennies on syringes. Nevada should NEVER have put a CAP on Malpratice just to reduce the cost of Malpratice Insurance for these RICH “Doctors”!!!

I will be loking into sueing and encouraging the State officials to file CRIMMINAL Charges against any one involed or knew about what was going on.

I think it’s time to leave Vegas! No wonder so many Vegas doctors and their family seek medical care outside of this city!

Comment by Dr S. — March 3, 2008 @ 10:45 pm

Mary,
I agree with your comment! If they can’t speak english very well then I would not trust them!! They are only here in Las Vegas, like many others, just to cash in on the great economy!!! Their homes in Spanish Trails need to be auctioned off and proceeds given to all patients to pay for testing!!!!

Comment by Jack King — March 3, 2008 @ 11:34 pm

I had two procedures done at this site with Dr. DeSai, and I’m sorry to disappoint most of you but I will NOT be jumping on the bandwagon to crucify these doctors. The syringe they are talking about is a 1 1/2″ wide syringe at the end of a 3 foot tube used to administer anesthesia, there’s hardly ANY chance that bacteria would go all the way up a 3 foot tube into the syringe, I think the truth will come out and while it may have been a way to save on syringe costs, I don’t think it merits completely shutting down 3 facilities that we depend on for colonoscopies and other life-saving exams. That’s just me.

Comment by Donnie Castleman — March 3, 2008 @ 11:35 pm

I’ve had enough for one night!!!!! What Doctors are next? Bring them all out of the shadows and send them home!!!

Comment by Jack King — March 3, 2008 @ 11:49 pm

I had a colonoscopy at the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada in Jan. 2007 and an Endoscopy at the Endoscopy Center of Nevada in Dec 2007.
Dr. Desai (hard to call him a doctor now) did the later procedure. The odd thing was when I went for a follow up in Jan. 2008 he billed my health insurance company $150. The odd thing? He didn’t say one thing to me as he spoke into a pocket tape recorder. He handed me two prescriptions and aimed me toward the Pay Window. Kinda weird, huh? I get the Von’s Pharmacy and my insurance doesn’t cover the drugs. Why, you might ask? Because the were both available over the counter.

I haven’t taken a blood test yet. I have a planned visit with my doctor on march 5th. He knows about me already.

BTW, what type of settlement should I seek? I wwas there twice, as I stated.
$10,000? $25,000? 100,000? $$$$????

What do you think? I have never sued before. Can I, or should I, get my own attorney and sue seperately?

I thank Channel 8 News (and of course http://www.lasvegasnow.com) for the heads up.

Comment by RazzO — March 4, 2008 @ 12:40 am

You racist idiots do realize that half (two) of the owners are white, right?

Leave it to Las Vegas… Only the brown skin doctor should be punished, only brown skin kids can shoot white kids and the ricin guy must be middle eastern… Right?

Forget about the white guy who killed the mother of five (or six) by driving a spike through her head. Forget about the white doctors. And oops, the ricin guy isn’t named Mohammad, as someone else suggested, he’s named Roger.

You people afraid of the brown skin boogieman make me sick.

Comment by Capt — March 4, 2008 @ 1:43 am

To Danny’s comment below;

When I had the colonoscopy in Jan 2007 it was a needle directly in my arm.
I do recall the tube in the December 2007 Endoscopy. I think, anyway. I was out pretty fast. It was a rush job. LOL.

razz

================================================
I had two procedures done at this site with Dr. DeSai, and I’m sorry to disappoint most of you but I will NOT be jumping on the bandwagon to crucify these doctors. The syringe they are talking about is a 1 1/2″ wide syringe at the end of a 3 foot tube used to administer anesthesia, there’s hardly ANY chance that bacteria would go all the way up a 3 foot tube into the syringe, I think the truth will come out and while it may have been a way to save on syringe costs, I don’t think it merits completely shutting down 3 facilities that we depend on for colonoscopies and other life-saving exams. That’s just me.

Comment by Donnie Castleman — March 3, 2008 @ 11:35 pm

Comment by RazzO — March 4, 2008 @ 2:17 am

I agree with Elvis #35.
I am Elvis #35 at work too.

Third world Doctors are not the only Doctors that quack in vegas or anywhere else (except in the third world , funny how that works really)
if only it were so simple .

For sure , other medical union due payers will pick up a bat and hit out at anyone who dare pick on one their own.

(like any other used car salesman)The medical profession works on commission and life is terminal.

Put the two together , I think you see why spending a few moments buying a medical degree online (like I have) can make one a good buck .

Comment by Elvis — March 4, 2008 @ 5:06 am

Every R.N. and C.R.N.A. and the Doctors that followed the illegal orders should all be ordered to stop practicing now. Then they should have their license revoked. If the Nevada Board of Registered Nurses does not do that, then they are not worth the respect of the medical community. I am a retired California Registered Nurse and I would never have done that. I was told by a nursing instructor, remember you may lose your job but not your license.I am not comfortable with all these foreign nusrses in hospitals, cause they bring with them all the bad pratices they used. I have caught them doing some things they should not have done and when questioned the response was I am sorry it was just by habit that I did that.

Comment by james bakeman — March 4, 2008 @ 7:16 am

Count on certain doctors heading back to their native countries as soon as they can get their assets out of the country. Maybe they’ll be nice enought to turn in their passports?

Comment by Richard — March 4, 2008 @ 8:50 am

All of this to save less than a buck a patient.

Comment by Lewis B. Sckolnick — March 4, 2008 @ 9:12 am

I want a piece of his 3M plus house. I hope he has to sell it to pay for the lawsuits. This is outrageous and what’s worse is that it took 4 years to uncover this? If a bar or a restaurant is found not up to standards it is closed IMMEDIATELY and they are inspected SEVERAL times a year!!

Comment by Concerned — March 4, 2008 @ 9:13 am

as a gastroenterologist in another state, i have been following this story. i work in an academic practice and although appalled by the story, i’m not surprised. the sheer greed of many private practice gastroenterologists is unbelievable– unethical practices, unnecessary procedures, etc. i would bet no one who has had both a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (EGD) there has ever had it on the same day– why? because they can bill the facility fee twice if done on different days. this is a common scam and the reason that docs buy into these endoscopy centers. as for the comment about hiv not showing up in blood for years, this is incorrect. the antibody should be detectable within a couple of months. if you test negative and were scoped more than two months ago, i think you can consider yourself negative.

Comment by dr216 — March 4, 2008 @ 9:56 am

This makes it very difficult to trust other medical professionals. Doctors who above all take a Hippocratic Oath and this did not just happen one day this went on for four years. didn’t any patients ask them questions when they went in for things? I do not feel the charges I hear so far match up to the level of diseas people now face. My prayers to them and their families!!!

Comment by kathy — March 4, 2008 @ 10:21 am

My Aunt was a former patient. Not only does she have to deal with the fact that during a colonoscopy her bowel was perforated, she was sent home to huddle all night in extreme pain, went back into the ER, then through emergency surgery a colostomy bag was inserted, until over a year later when it could be removed , but now she has to go for testing due to the negligence and blatant disregard of the OATH these medical personnel are sworn to. Hold those people responsible for their actions. These victims of this clinic have been VIOLATED.

Comment by TJ — March 4, 2008 @ 10:40 am

I had a colonoscopy done at the Burnham Avenue location, and everything seemed to go smoothly until I arrived in the office where they perform exit interviews, and the employee asked me why I still had my anesthesia IV still in my arm. That was a sign to me that something was wrong with this place.

Comment by James Dinda — March 4, 2008 @ 11:57 am

I jusy heard another clinic was closed anyone have the address I have a family member that has gone to one

Comment by frances g curry — March 4, 2008 @ 12:31 pm

Francis, here is a bit more info, hope this helps

Late Monday afternoon, Clark County suspended the licenses of three additional clinics run by the same people who own the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada.

The businesses are the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center, 4275 S. Burnham, the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, also located at 4275 S. Burnham and the Spanish Hills Surgical Center located at 5915 S. Rainbow Blvd.

Comment by TJ — March 4, 2008 @ 1:24 pm

Yesterday, my family received two of the notices from the Health District-my husband and my mother for whom I am the caregiver–right now I find it hard to understand how anyone in the medical profession could allow this to happen or even worse perform this type of travesty themselves and for what?? MONEY?? OH MY GOD–my husband and my mother’s health is not theirs to play GOD with–why are these people not LOCKED UP already?? Can you SAY– ASSAULT??? Why are these doctors (sleeze) still walking the streets?? As I see it what they did was no less than playing GOD–what right do they have to KNOWINGLY put my or anyone elses family members at risk and HOW DO YOU SLEEP at night?? I would like to see their family members injected or even they themselves with some of these used syringes and then relate to us what the ‘odds’ are of contracting something?? I understand that Vegas is a ‘betting’ city but I dont thing others people’s lives are something anyone should play around with–one of my first thoughts about this last night was the fact that our city has been devastated by the rash of school shootings and as a city we have been ringing our hands about why would these kids have so little regard for life–sound FAMILIAR–seems like these doctors did not have much regard for life either, especially if it meant a little more money in their pockets….and this is what our kids are learning from whom??? The adults…..the Doctors and nurses no less….Why have there not been arrests?? I still say that whether the individuals were the ones using the syringes more than once or the ones in the same office who were looking the other way–they should all pay–
then I see that they wanted to re-open the office?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? They should have plenty of money in their pockets from all the money they saved to live for quite a while and not work while the people they chose to put thru this nightmare take time off of work to get a referral from their own Doctor and then have to go to the lab to have their blood drawn…..what is this world coming to–

Comment by Sherelle Thomson — March 4, 2008 @ 3:00 pm

I think all people involved in this issue should be punished. I know that if someone knowingly has hiv and sleeps with someone, they are charged. Aren’t they charged with murder or at least attempt? Cause that is basically what these doctors did. They knew what they were doing, knew it was hazardous for patients, but still did it. Now several people will lose their lives. How long have they been doctors or nurses? I really want to know why they did this. Please tell me. Money doesn’t seem to be the only reason. It can’t be.
One of my girlfriends always travel outside to get medical attention. She always claimed she didn’t trust doctors in Vegas. I on the other hand always told her that doctors can’t put us in harm. It’s illegal. I tried to convince her that Vegas doctors are the same as anywhere else. I’m kicking myself in the butt, and I’m so grateful she never listened to me.
I am so happy to know that they have closed the other offices. I hope justice is served. I am currently speaking with lawyers, but they said I first need to get results which is taking longer than a week now, because of the volume. I hope all victims will take legal action. If anyone knows what else we can do, please let me know.

Comment by Dissapointed — March 4, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

Here in the Kansas City area, there have been people charged that had HIV and knowingly risked others lives by having sex. It is no different, only I believe worse, these people were supposed to be professionally trained in safety in all areas. I would never have gone along with the orders of the doctors had I worked there. And I would have reported it. It is a shame so many kept quiet, must have been something in it for them too.

Comment by TJ — March 4, 2008 @ 4:18 pm

The questions I have are: 1. How many cases of colon cancer have been found at the closed Clinics? How many lives have been save? 2. Where are the people to go to have their colon checked? I owe my life to a doctor who found my cancer early. He was from India. That was 14 years ago. If it had not been for him I would have died years ago. Of course a very bad mistake has been made. But now with the reaction of the cities and county how many will die because of the difficult job of finding a place where a colonoscopy can be performed? Colon cancer must be found early for a person to survive. I hope and pray not many.

Comment by Evan Larsen — March 4, 2008 @ 7:20 pm

Before we start handing out medals to our city officials, no one is explaining why this information became known on January 11, 2008 and NO ACTION OR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE was made until Friday, February 29, 2008. I was treated twice by this clinic with anesthisia, intially August 31, 2007 and again on January 31, 2008. When I went to my Doctor to get my bloodwork done on Monday, March 3, I was told they were not worried about the second visit in late January, because the clinic had changed it’s proceedure on January 11. WHY WERE WE NOT TOLD BY OUR CITY FATHERS THEN INSTEAD OF 6 WEEKS LATER?

Also, no one is addressing the fact that this is the clinic that the VA refers all its gastro patients too. Why was their contractor not on top of this? I wonder if the VA can spell Lawsuit along with local heath authorities who kept this information secret from the public?

Comment by Richard Smith — March 4, 2008 @ 7:37 pm

If you were holding a gun and I told you to shoot someone and you pulled the trigger and killed someone…. who would be up for murder… you or me?

I hold the anestegiologists 100% responsible for this regardless if they were told to do this or not, they are the ONLY ones, (not the RN’s or MD’s by the way), who administered the medication to THEIR patients. I hope the ones involved lose their licenses and are indicted and covicted and see some serious prison time!!!! Anyone thought about that this might have been a deliberate act of one of the anestegiologists?

I appreciate Dr. Lauras comments #45

Comment by Think about it — March 4, 2008 @ 8:28 pm

Question…
Didn’t they say the doctors reused the same hose on several patients and only dabbed them in tap water before continuing on the next patient?
I find it hard to believe that only part of the staff knew what was going on.

Comment by Dissapointed — March 4, 2008 @ 8:50 pm

Don’t believe everything you hear or read. I want to know what the facts say. I think this city will be horrified when the true facts of this unimaginable crime are released.

Comment by Think about it — March 4, 2008 @ 8:53 pm

I still think the cap of the lawsuits is OK. I personally think that every patient (even if you test negative) should sue. $350k is enough per patient. If you were to contract one of these diseases I think a creative enough lawyer could sue them not for medical malpractice, but other things like emotional distress and even wrongful death.

The part that ticks me off most is that none of the Health Districts didn’t shut them down. I’m an engineer and we have to have Health District approval on some of our plans showing that the sewer lines aren’t too close to water lines. Why can’t they shut down a doctor who’s infecting their patients.

These doctors and possibly some nurses belong in jail. They only have so much money and the lawyers will get most of that anyways.

Look what this has done to our image. When I first heard about this on the Fox News Channel (you know the national one) I wonder how many people said well maybe I don’t want to visit there in case I get sick. FNC had a guy from the Health District on and he just said a clinic. So if that was the only story you heard about this you might of thought it was an urgent care clinic. I know I did. I had a friend that came into town the weekend before and had to take her young daughter to an urgent care center because she came down with a fever.

Comment by lvthunder — March 4, 2008 @ 10:02 pm

Those doctors are the equivalent of domestic terrorist they knowingly tried 2 kill 40,000 Las Vegans have caused near mass hysteria and they profited from it Dr. Dipak Desai and all others involved should have there bank accounts frozen he lives in a multi million dollar house and it is clear that this was planned .Who is attempting to downplay the fact that people are going to die i have members of my family that are waiting for blood test and they can not sleep there currently in shock .These medical terrorist tried to kill my mother and there are to ways that it will be squared away 1. They will be punished according to the laws of the land and 2.They will compensate with 100s of millions of dollars but if our legal system does not set an example we shall never feel safe and I’m confident that someone will be looking for these terrorist/doctors im highly anticipating the release of there photos.

Comment by Brandon — March 4, 2008 @ 10:12 pm

It may be a good idea to check with the VA Clinics as one or more of those doctors has worked there and may still work there now. Nurses and workers there are presured to do the unthinkable sometimes or lose there job or be chastised over it, so things are over looked or not reported, for those reasons. I could be speaking out of fright for myself and other Vets, but using outside Doctors is common at the VA. If any of those doctors has worked for the VA at that time then you should have all of the patients they treated both personally or thru that clinic.

PS Please do not use my name or email as I do not wish to bring attention to myself. If you need to contact be that will be fine.

Comment by Jo A. Stevens — March 4, 2008 @ 11:23 pm

Please check with the VA Clinics as one or more of those doctors has worked there and may still work there now. My spouse and I have had procedures both at the va and in town. I am afraid for all those treated for any condition by the clinics of these doctors or by these doctors themselves at these 6 or any other locations such as the VA, or Hospitals that they are a member of or get called into to do consultations. If any of those doctors has worked for the VA during the critical time frame then you should have all of those VA Patients checked too.

If a prostitute who has HIV knowingly has sex with a person without informing them it is a criminal act just as it you put a gun to someones head. They go to prison. These Doctors should also, but they will probably just move their practice to another state or just not practice but still own and run the clinics the same way legally.

Comment by Agrees with the "Eye for an Eye" punishment — March 5, 2008 @ 12:10 am

I would just like to let you know that since 2004. My daughter has been doctoring with these faucilities. and she has had surgery 3 times. and with her last major surgery. which we thought we were going to lose her. She was sent home with staff infection to boot. She was having her blood work done at the shadow Ln. Clinic and also a couple of the other Clinics that were mentioned. And after These DRS. butchered this girl they were no longer instate. Thats what we were told anyway. And Now today she receive a letter, Stating that she could be one of the 40,000 with Hepatitis B&C. She is going out of her mind. And thats not saying much for myself. Thanks for listening. I had to tell someone. Or I’ll explode. Connie Hoppe, P.S. I have already buried my youngest daughter 2 yrs ago. Because of her husband. I hope I don’t have to bury another one. Help me if you can.

Comment by Connie Hoppe — March 5, 2008 @ 1:35 am

I agree with the Docs who had procedures there to just CALM DOWN until all the facts are in. I am sure that many lives were saved there by finding cancer early enough to treat, etc. Rumors are flying and the word *alleged* should be used. None of us were there and knows what happened yet. Many of you already HAD Hepatitis C long before you ever went to that clinic. You just didn’t know it. Everyone should be tested for Hepatitis C. It is the most common chronic blood borne virus in the United States. 5 times more prevalent than HIV. Please scroll back and read my post with facts about Hepatitis C. Educate yourselves! I had mine for probably 40 years before they found it. Who do I sue? I was a hospital employee before universal precautions and probably acquired it via that route (or my blood transfusion, or going to the beauty parlor, or numerous other ways where a blood to blood transfer was involved in *every day life*!) It isn’t a death sentence. It is a slow progressing disease with no symptoms until the latter stages. GET EDUCATED!

Comment by PSPam — March 5, 2008 @ 3:10 am

I am sorry for all those of you who have gone and are worried sick; Hopefully everything turns out okay for all of you. Though I did not go to this medical center I am really angry. It’s basic knowledge that needles as well as syringes, vials etc should not be reused. These drs were obviously negligent, aware of what they were doing and should be punished! I agree ‘an eye for an eye’.

Comment by Not a patient — March 5, 2008 @ 3:50 am

I find all this ironic, as I just stopped going to the Public Health Clinic for my women’s issues care, due to the malpractice and shoddy treatment I have received over the last almost 2 years. I won’t give the details here, but let’s just say I reached the point where I had to say enough is enough! I have returned to seeing a “real” doctor, and the difference was immediately apparent! What scares me now, is that my husband went to some of these places many years ago, and he experienced all sorts of maladies, including kidney failure, and eventual death from heart failure. So, I have to wonder what was going on then, if perhaps my husband suffered unnecessarily due to these people, and if I should be worried about anything I may have come into contact with as a result. In my humble opinion, these persons involved are guilty of malpractice and attempted murder, and should be immediately removed and kept from working in ANY medical type of job, EVER!

Comment by Suzanne — March 5, 2008 @ 5:12 am

Lets take all those responsible including the nursing staff that knew about this “crime” and inject them with a dirty needle and just see how they feel! Each and everyone one of them should be held accountable. This is both criminal negligence and gross neglience. These doctors business licenses should be permanently revoked for good because the public will never feel safe again when one of their names is attached to a license in this town.

Comment by christine johnston — March 5, 2008 @ 5:31 am

How dare some people think that we are over exaggerating. I get tested every year for everything. I actually just got tested right before I had my procedure done. I am so scarred and terrified of catching something. Not just for my life, but for my future kids. I don’t have kids now, however in the future I want to. Granted somethings, such as hep c can’t be transferred through birth, hiv and hep b can. So you are telling me that I shouldn’t worry when someone knowingly put me at risk? How dare you. This is my life. People think I’m crazy cause I don’t share drinks or because I choose to be celibate. Those were my choices because I know hep can be spread through saliva and I know the best prevention of std’s is by no sex at all. I’ve educated myself very well, and tried my best to prevent these things. Even if nothing happens to certain people, you’re telling us not to worry. That’s not even half of it. Our lives were put in danger. If someone holds you hostage, but doesn’t harm you, make it ok? NO. Every action has a reaction. We were knowingly put in an extremely dangerous situation. Now we may have to deal with something we have been so cautious of. So please don’t tell me not to worry. I wish none of us had to go through this, and I’m so sorry that we have to.

Comment by Dissapointed — March 5, 2008 @ 5:48 am

I agree with you Dissapointed.
There are some of us that choose to live life safely,
and practice not only common sense but get tested.
I too choose to live celibate and disease free.

And PSPam I am EDUCATED, you say it is a slow progressing disease,
however none of these people took the risk themselves,
THEY HAD NO CHOICE in the matter. THEY DID NOT MAKE THE CHOICE TO BE POSSIBLY INFECTED.
The doctors, nurses, cna’s, they are the ones who need to get EDUCATED.
Oh yea right, I forgot they are the ones with the degrees…

Comment by TJ — March 5, 2008 @ 7:01 am

These doctors & the employees with them should recieve LIFE in Prison WITHOUT the possibilty of parole!
You have to be stark raving mad…CRAZY…to get ANY invasive proceedure done HERE in LAS VEGAS …go to the Mayo clinic…in Scottsdale AZ, or UCLA, Scrips, Santa Barbara…etc., Las Vegas has ALWAY had sub-par medical services & doctors!

Comment by Lou — March 5, 2008 @ 8:04 am

Hep C is a death sentence. These are mass killers.

Comment by RufusLKing — March 5, 2008 @ 8:23 am

The supposed doctors who run these clinics?
Doing more jobs that citizen doctors of this
country will not? Is that it?

I have worked in hospitals my whole life. This is
despicable. Their are laws and guidelines for all medical offices and hospitals. Or is this a case where OSHA ran out of money and did not inspect?

And where did this clinic get the employees who did
the sticks and draws? What country are they from?
Or they “trained” to do sticks…

This is horrendous. This country has imported so many “immigrants” and “refugees” from other countries,
that now the USA is starting to look like the countries these people supposedly needed to escape from.

All the employees up to and including the supposed doctors need to be shipped back to their respective
countries and jailed for life. This is mass murder and should be treated as so.

Comment by notpc — March 5, 2008 @ 8:26 am

This is outrageous! Every Doctor and nurse who knowingly used dirty needles on patients should be jailed for a very long time and have there license to practice medice revoked forever.

Comment by Sebastian Delaney — March 5, 2008 @ 8:58 am

How low we have fallen, all those people involved in obviously wrong behavior, and it went on for 4 years!!!
Punish the scum!!!!!!!!

Comment by Joe Clark — March 5, 2008 @ 9:33 am

I contacted my dr’s office about having the blood test to see if I contracted any of these viruses and was told that I would have to sign a waiver, that if my insurance co. didn’t pay for the test that I would pay the cost of the $300.00 test. If my insurance doesn’t pay for the test will they pay anything relating to this issue if I test positive?

Comment by Dennis — March 5, 2008 @ 9:52 am

As someone who has been dealing with HepC for awhile now, I just burn with anger inside at what has happened to these patients. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE DOCTORS SHOULD BE IMPRISONED FOR AS LONG AS THE LAW ALLOWS WITH NO CHANCE OF EARLY RELEASE. This was deliberate and wilful negligence on their part and they should be 1) stripped of every dime of financial assets they have 2) their own financial records thoroughly investigated and 3) never be allowed to practice medicine anywhere in the world ever again.

My heart just ACHES for the people who have tested positive. And for those of you who have posted here and are waiting for your results, you are all in my prayers. If any of you end up testing positive for HCV, please please please get on the Web, arm yourself with knowledge about this disease and join whatever support group you are comfortable with. There is a vast storehouse of information out there on the bandwidth, some of it technical, some of it from people who have been thru this thing. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

If Las Vegas lets these bastages get away with this, every HCV positive person in the country should converge on the City in a full scale mass protest.

Comment by KOZANNE — March 5, 2008 @ 10:30 am

LV Thunder: “I still think the cap of the lawsuits is OK. I personally think that every patient (even if you test negative) should sue. $350k is enough per patient.”

Do you have any idea how much the treatments for HCV cost? Plus the time lost at work [if you don’t end up on disability entirely]? Or the time your spouse/significant other loses taking you back and forth to doc and labs or just taking care of you when you can’t even get out of bed?

Had I not had good insurance when I was diagnosed, I would have had to get financial assistance JUST FOR THE DRUGS. We’re not even talking about the labs and the office visits, plus any other additional drugs you may end up taking [ie., Procrit]to mitigate the side effects of treatment.

350K is a drop in the bucket. Like I said earlier, strip these guys of every financial asset they have and create a fund for treatment of those diagnosed with HIV, HCV or HBV as a result of their negligence.

Note: The drug companies do have financial assistance programs for anyone who does not have insurance or whose insurance won’t cover the treatments. I understand that they work very well, so you aren’t backed into a corner if you can’t pay for the tx yourself.

Comment by KOZANNE — March 5, 2008 @ 10:38 am

THANK YOU MAYOR OSCAR GOODMAN.
NOW THE MEDICAL BOARD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REVOKE THESE DOCTORS MEDICAL LICENSE.
OR THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO USE ONE OF THOSE NEEDLES ON EACH OF THEM AND LET THEM PLAY THE WAITING GAME.
MY SON WILL PROBABLY BE ON THAT TERRIFYING LIST.

Comment by V.DAWSON — March 5, 2008 @ 11:05 am

Dam indian doctors…Go back to your 3rd world country and infect your own people…Maybe he is from pakistan or where ever…Just go back you dumb ass Desai

Comment by Alan — March 5, 2008 @ 11:31 am

I just read the comment by Donnie Castleman - the size of the syringe and the length of the tube are moot for people who did not have that particular connection for their anesthesia. The practice in question is USING THE SAME VIAL AND SYRINGE FOR MORE THAN ONE WITHDRAWAL. I am a retired RN - when I started practicing nursing, there were no disposables. We reused and cleaned EVERYTHING by boiling, autoclave or chemical sterilization. At that time an infection was seen as a black eye for everyone. This present-day cross-infection would never have happened then! I have had 3 procedures at this facility and am awaiting results from my tests.
You can bet the farm I will be included in any lawsuit.

Comment by E J McCormick — March 5, 2008 @ 11:32 am

G.I. Joints! (Gastro Intestinal) Do-Drop-In
I’ve been to 2 of the clinic locations, Shadow Lane (NASTY AS HELL bldg) and Horizon Ridge. These clinics are ran with casino mentality, fast cash, drive-thru Elvis clinic’s. 60 procedures per day in that NASTY bldg. I am from another state with clean/normal hospitals where g.i.’s are done.
I found both atmospheres identical to that of Perfect Auto, scam’ish, so I left and never returned. I was already suing Perfect Auto for corruption -they are still open after extensive investigations by Vegas officials.$$

Comment by Robin Head — March 5, 2008 @ 11:41 am

What happens to their patients that are in the middle of treatments? I am an ongoing patient with Crohns and Colitis, I am in the middle of medications, tests, etc….what do I do? How do I get my records? Do I have to start over with a new Dr? How long will it take to get reestablished with a new physician? I am on medications that must be monitored? I had a colonoscopy at the Center on Burnham in July, do I need to be tested?

Everyone keeps focusing on how to prosecute and “sue” the Dr’s, but noone is focusing or answering the questions that need to be addressed. I cant be the only patient they have had that does not feel the need to sue, but does need to continue to receive the care required for a specific condition. Where do people like me go for answers?

Comment by YDF — March 5, 2008 @ 11:59 am

Behavior like this is why we’re paying so much for health care. How much is it going to cost to treat the people who contracted hepatitis or HIV/AIDS? How much to cover the lawsuits? These so-called health care professionals knew that what they were doing was wrong, they knew the risks, and they did it anyway. They didn’t give a d**n what happened to their patients. Do the procedure, (over)bill the insurance, pocket the money. This is more than simple negligence. This was deliberate and wilful and may have sentenced thousands of people to early deaths. This is beyond appalling.

Comment by Roxanna — March 5, 2008 @ 12:02 pm

I only hope the DA freezes this doctor’s assets and makes him surrender his passport. The doctor who did this in Nebraska went back to Pakistan. It’s likely this guy will do the same before he sees the inside of a jail cell.

Comment by james stanton — March 5, 2008 @ 12:20 pm

Quick sotry…
I am so terrified of needles. I hate giving blood or getting shots. I always freak out and cry. I don’t know why, but every time I see needles I cringe and cry. Since so many people are having to get tested, the clinics have been extremely packed, and the staff a little irritable because they’re being over worked. So when I went into Quest Diagnostics to have my blood taken the other day I started freaking out and crying in front of the nurse. I tried not to, but it always happens. This is what got to me… She looked at me in kind of a disgust and disbelief way and said “Why are you so scarred? Have you had a bad experience before?” I was shocked. First of all I’m scarred of them no matter what. Secondly, look what happened the last time somebody used a syringe on me. I think she felt a little stupid after that.

Comment by Dissapointed — March 5, 2008 @ 12:32 pm

Don’t feel stupid dissapointed, it’s NOT your fault.
I have the same reaction from needles, and I have not been exposed like you. It is perfectly normal for some of us to be like that with needles. I pass out myself.

Comment by TJ — March 5, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

John McCain says we have the best health care system in the world. I wonder how this fits into that?

Comment by Aredee — March 5, 2008 @ 1:02 pm

I agree 100% with the comment by RN #6. When are we as nurses ever going to be backed up by the Nevada State Board of Nursing for being a patient advocate? I am so disheartened to know of the many nurses that did not stand up for what is right because of the fear of losing their jobs. My husband is one of the victims in all this; I hope and pray that we receive good news, just as everyone else does that are victims of this terrible tragedy.
Linda

Comment by Linda — March 5, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

I was a pt at one of these GI”cattle calls”. It was in 2002.I am an RN ,I can assure you that the same procedure of using dirty needles and multidose vials was going on in 2002.
I yelled at the “nurse? anesthetist” telling him to get a fresh vial and fresh needle. Instant anesthesia resulted. I have names and phone numbers and will publish them if necessary. They, at that time were doing at least 100 procedures per day on Pecos near Flamingo. Sloppy garbage work, shame on the personnel and the MD for allowing this to go on. This is why I won’t work in Nevada as anything but a healthcare fraud investigator. This place is more full of fraud than any other state in the country. By the way, the charge for this service at the clinic ran around $3K to the insurance company, plus the MD charges, anesthesia charges and facility charges.Plus you pay co-pays for all services. How many healthcare $$ are on the plate now?? Getting tested today.
HEALTHSAVE, March 5, 2006.

Comment by diane hallRN — March 5, 2008 @ 2:10 pm

I WAS WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS WHO ARE THINKING WHAT I AM THINKING…TERRORISM….IF TERRORISTS CAN COME HERE AND GET A PILOTS LICENSE,WHY CAN’T THEIR DOCTORS(SO CALLED)DO THE SAME THING???
RUN A CLINIC,EXPOSE 40,000 PEOPLE TO HERENDOUS DISEASE AND LET THEM ALL GO OUT AND EXPOSE OTHERS.NEXT THING YOU KNOW THEY WILL BE IN OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS OR OUR GAS COMPANY ETC.ETC.SO ON AND ON UNTIL THEY KILL US ALL FROM WITHIN!!!
ILLEGALS GO HOME!!!

Comment by JOHANNA BARROWS — March 5, 2008 @ 2:41 pm

to Mr. Dawson, blog #94, on your thank you to the Mayor…The clinic was told to change their proceedures on January 11th. Why was this not disclosed by the Mayor until Feb 29th?

And where were the city health facility inspectors during the four years this has been ongoing

Either out to lunch or at a party at Dipak’s 8,500 square foot personal Taj Mahal, I suspect.

Comment by Richard — March 5, 2008 @ 2:51 pm

Because most medical providers are corporations, the county should seize all the assets of the companies that were engaged in the illegal and unethical practices. The assests could the be liquidated to pay for testing of every person/victim that was affected. After all, we all trust that medical providers will take every precaution to “first do no harm”. It’s too bad the individuals themselves will likely get away with just a fine and reprimand.

Comment by David Sneade — March 5, 2008 @ 3:21 pm

If the nurses, technicians, doctors, anyone who was involved in these criminal actions they called procedures, feels that this is so safe, well then I would say BEND over and take your own medicine. Dr. Desai, isn’t it time for your anal, oops I mean annual checkup?
I will personally volunteer to do your procedure,
I am ready with the rubber gloves, I got them out in the mechanic shop, think I could even find some lube out there too.

Comment by TJ — March 5, 2008 @ 4:25 pm

THIS CLINIC IS VERY SECRETIVE ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHO THIER INSURANCE CARRIER IS INCASE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IT HERE IT IS: NEVADA MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY ON NEVADA 709 SHADOW LANE LAS VEGAS NV.89016 PHONE 702 798 6001 It’s owned by doctors (of cource) who grease all the politicians and crooked judges, ever wonder why it’s next to impossible to win a malpracitcein the state of nevada?

Comment by BILL LATHROP — March 5, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

Where is the NV state medical board? Asleep at the switch? They should yank these physicians’ licenses immediately… AND INS and the Department of State need to seize their passports or they will be gone from the country in a flash!

Comment by Bob Smith — March 5, 2008 @ 5:41 pm

I desided to get tested to be safe only to find outI had to sign a letter that Medicare does not pay for HIV testing. I got the test anyway and went back for my results only to find out that they had orders to not release them only to my doctor. I went to the doctors office and they told me two weeks before I would see the results WHY TUE RUNAROUND!!

Comment by Ken Brown — March 5, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

This is unconscionable! Saying these doctors exemplify the height of arrogance and recklessness would be and understatement. This is a prime example of “abusive of power”. Often times, educated and prominent folks tend to become the biggest offenders this. They are so full of themselves, with their degrees, placqes on the wall and standing in the community that it goes to their head. I have seen this many times in my life. The typical response I get is, “he/she is a prominent, well known attorney and would never do such a thing.” Or he/she is a prominent judge, doctor, psychologist or veterinarian, etc.and they would never do such a thing”. It is very sad that a person with such standing in a community would misuse it to hurt others and try to get away with. I hope the doctors responsible for this all spend the rest of their lives in prison! The employees who followed these orders are just as guilty. If my employer asked me to do something like that I would have two words for them. What a flaming disgrace! Emily

Comment by Emily — March 5, 2008 @ 7:52 pm

I just wanted to speak up on behalf of the Centers and the Doctors at the Center.

My husband has had a chronic and extremely serious illness for the past 20 years. During that time he’s nearly died several times and the resulting damage to his organs has left him with a number of serious issues including pancreas disease, liver disease and numerous other issues that relate to gastric disorders.

Since 1992 when he originally received treatment for his pancreas at Valley Hospital, Dr. Desai has performed a number of procedures on my husband. In the ensuing years Dr. Vishander Sharma has become my husband’s doctor/surgeon for many gastric procedures –some of which saved his life.

I feel that I probably know these doctors – and especially Dr. Sharma – as well as any patient could possibly know a doctor. He has helped us through some extremely difficult times, gave us hope when we literally didn’t have hope and provided such a high level of care that we have stayed in Nevada primarily out of a desire NOT to have to change health care providers, fearing to trust anyone else.

I have heard the horrible stories of persons who have contracted Hepatitis or HIV and I empathize. We live daily with this type of concern. However, despite the things I’ve heard on the media, I tend to recognize that there is a lot more to this than what we know. I tend to agree that anyone who willingly took risks with another person’s health, especially a health care provider, deserves to lose their right to continue in health care. However, I find it hard to imagine that such caring dedicated physicians would willingly do this. I have a tendency to NOT condemn them out of hand without an opportunity to find out all the facts.

There are a number of individuals that should be investigated. I own a business and I am ultimately responsible for the staff I hire. However, I have delegated duties to certain staff so that I can do the work that I need to be doing. I am confident in my staff and trust them. Does that mean that all individuals are worthy of that trust – NO. Where was that office manager or inventory manager that ordered those items? Didn’t he/she question why the center had 20,000 patients this quarter and only used 10,000 syringes? What about the nurses? They are the hub of the organization. Didn’t they know? And how could an anathesiologist tell a nurse to reuse a needle in this day and age without some whistle-blowing? Who is the anathesiologist anyway? All the info I’ve heard is condemning the owners and doctors yet I also hear that the procedure wasn’t the problem, it was before hand. Have you ever known a surgeon to be in a room before they were “ready” for him? I think that there is too much unknown information to take all these medical professionals out of our health care system without more information. All we’ve really accomplished is a to create a health care crisis, scare people rather than simply inform on the facts and some fantastic lawsuits for the local attorney population. Real people with real illnesses will see very little of the money if any – ever – and in the meantime have no health care provider.

Further, in the interim by closing all these facilities – rather than an intense investigation and legal action through the medical review board – we’ve limited those of us with real illnesses today from receiving proper care. My husband has had so many tests at these centers and surgerys at almost every Valley hospital, that it is nonsense to worry about it. You’d go crazy. And even if he does contract a disease how do we prove when and where he got it? He’s been in and out of hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, to the extent that anything could have resulted. I am more concerned with the important test he was to have later this month by Dr. Sharma; one that has serious ramifications if he doesn’t get it done. We were at Dr. Sharma’s office Monday morning and due to return on March 26th. I am devastated that the only doctor to successfully perform this procedure on my husband – outside of the Mayo Clinic – is now unavailable. What happens to us? Even if we could find another doctor locally with the qualifications and experience with this particular procedure, they will be inundated by new patients since we’ve lost the most popular center in Southern Nevada. What do you really think the chances of getting my husband’s procedure done in this town are?

With this investigation going on and with industry oversight – the Gastro Centers are probably the safest medical facilities in Nevada as they are under such close scrutiny. Open them back up, fire the people that were responsible for the actual activity –let them prove in court who directed it – they still did it. And let people continue to have healthcare.

Dr. Sharma, has been instrumental in leading many healthcare reforms in Nevada. He has been involved in a volunteer capacity in many healthcare organizations and has a reputation that is exemplary. His reputation has been destroyed. He has resigned from Board positions where his insight has been invaluable as a result of the investigation. Regardless of the outcome and his eventual exoneration, his practice will most likely never recover and his career and reputation will always be tainted. Perhaps he’ll even leave Nevada. What a shame.

I for one, and my husband will NOT be joining any lawsuit against Dr. Sharma. We respect him too much and doubt seriously that he had anything to do with any medical malpractice. We are however rethinking our intent to remain in Las Vegas. This is the most difficult town to get good healthcare in and now it’s nearly impossible – for us anyway.

One last thought, I’ve taken the time to read all the comments prior to my own. The racial slurs, hatred, and fear make me crazy. Do you not realize people that the worst times in human history were realized when people allowed hatred and fear to dictate their actions. This is of course a serious situations; lives are at stake. But to compound this with hatred and racial bigotry is equally disgusting. As someone very used to dealing with health care professionals can attest to; some of the most brilliant physicians are of middle eastern decent - and thank God for them or my children would have grown up without a father - and some of them wouldn’t even exist.

We should focus our energy on helping those who are postive, praying for minimal impact, and trying to be supportive in a time of crisis - not part of the larger problem.

Comment by Suzie Reeve — March 5, 2008 @ 7:53 pm

Lets see…..even if needles or syringes only cost 25 cents, and you multiplied that by 6, (the amount of people so far that have tested positive for Hep C from procedures done on the same day), that would come to $1.50.

I would love to ask these doctors if the possibility of paying even ONE million dollars due to malpractice suits is worth the $1.50 they saved by using the same needle or syringe on those 6 people?

They may be doctors and have degrees in medicine but they must have had a major disconnect with math because I’d much rather spend $1.50 than ONE MILLION!

Comment by Ginny — March 5, 2008 @ 8:08 pm

Will we ever know exactly who made the authorization to do this and who did it? I was a patient of Dr. Sharma and am having difficulty believing he would willing be a part of this. Fortunatley I was never at that center and my heart and prayers go out to all of those who may be affected or infected. My anger lies that I have a colon disease and now have been abandoned by the person how has been helping me for the last few years. I am truly disgusted, but as a patient don’t think Dr. Sharma deserves all the slander….so he was late for some meetings - big deal. Sounds like Dr DeSei already was untrustworthy. Again - I am on the side of all the patients so don’t take all of this wrong. Christina - patient with no doctor and not happy either

Comment by Christina — March 5, 2008 @ 8:09 pm

Bob Smith: The state Medical Board is aso made up of doctors who are looking out for thier intrests,I know of a doctor who practices in California who tried to open a practice in Nevada. (a good old boy state) They do not recognise reciprocity as other states, and as a result put this guy through the most rigorus testing etc, gave him so much grief he just went to California where he has a very sucessful business. He said he’s talked to a doctor from here who told him that he did not have to go through any thing like that testing. Ever wonder why there’s a shortage of doctors here? Yet we get these imports.

Comment by BILL LATHROP — March 5, 2008 @ 8:19 pm

Does anyone know if these doctors have their own anesthesiologists with them when they do procedures at other hospitals?

I don’t know, so I am asking.

I know I had a couple of procedures done and one of them was done in a hospital because I didn’t want to get it done at Shadow Lane.

But if these doctors have regular anesthesiologists that they use at other locations, could this practice of reusing needles or syringes extend to procedures done in places other than their own clinics?

I have been wondering if maybe the anesthesiologists participating in these procedures might be employed on a regular basis through these clinics?

I know one GI doctor here who has an anesthesiologist that he uses on a regular basis for all his patients. It wouldn’t be so far fetched for GCN to do the same thing would it?

If that is the case, then this could be much more wide-spread than anyone ever imagined!

I think we should look into that possibility as well and not just limit this investigation to the GCN clinics but check ANYWHERE any of these doctors did their procedures!

Comment by Ginny — March 5, 2008 @ 8:25 pm

What bothers me also is the fact our Social Security system is being raped by these doctors,and insurance companies.My wife was a victim of this Dr., as during her exam her intestine was perferated. It’s been a long time recovery and my thinking is that all the expenses we have had to bare with, and the health care provider’s should have been covered by Desia’s insurance. No it didn’t go that way, even though I raised the issue with our provider who billed Medicare. No wonder it’s going belly up and Washington doesn’t care.These young people paying into it are not going to see any thing out of it,when they’ll need it.

Comment by BILL LATHROP — March 5, 2008 @ 8:55 pm

Why can’t someone, anyone, step up and do the ethical thing here? I think it’s great that UMC is offering tests to those with letters - BUT AT THE PATIENT EXPENSE? The county could easily foot the bill (and get wholesale pricing) for the testing and seize the assets of the guilty parties (doctors, anesthesiologist, other staff) to recoup the costs. And what about those of us without letters?

Then there’s the issue where insurance companies might choose to not cover this test? I had a colonoscopy (at the Burnham location) as a precaution because my sister has anal cancer. But my insurance wouldn’t pay for it unless I LIED and said I had a persistent stomach pain.

Folks - Universal Health Care IS expensive but it is worth every penny. Don’t get confused about who makes decisions in a UHC structure. The doctors make the decisions on the procedures and the government foots the bill. This is a good thing - and when the government finds a doctor abusing the privilege of spending the citizens money (through thorough frequent oversight and audit - another large expense), they yank the medical license and in many cases the visiting doctor’s Visa.

Will the wait times grow under UHC? Yes - more people will use the free service, but as more (good californian) doctors move to Las Vegas and focus on preventative measures, those numbers will decrease after a couple years.

I do not believe all doctors in Las Vegas are incompetent. But if a competency measuring stick exists and all doctors in the metro area are measured against it, I believe we would find a higher percentage of incompetent practice here than in other cities in the USA and the world.

It’s been suggested in this blog that these doctors could be terrorists - I find that unlikely but possible. I think this particular group were greedy - not evil - and had poor management/oversight skills or made poor decisions or both.

In the mean time I’m going to investigate a way to be tested anonymously so my insurance doesn’t find out about it, THEN join a legal battle and fight until I can’t anymore if the results are positive.

Comment by Former patient — March 5, 2008 @ 11:49 pm

There is a question continually repeated on the list of comments here. The clinics did not use doctors of anesthesiology but nurse anesthetists as allowed by the State of Nevada.

Secondly, I don’t believe that all the comments with respect to 3rd world physicians and nurses are based on racism. The standard of care and training in India for example is not nearly as high as that of the U.S. And their procedures in hospitals regarding medical devices are not nearly as stringent. Cultural and training differences do make a difference when administering healthcare which may not be entirely their fault but from a lack of oversight by Clark County, the State of Nevada and the federal government. We have H1B visas for thousands of professionals coming to the U.S. and welcome many students to our medical schools. Many however, are trained in their owned countries and then take licensing exams in the U.S.In the age of political correctness, sometimes it trumps all common sense.

And lastly,as a patient of one of the 14 doctors in practice at the Gastro Center of Nevada who is not at the center of this investigation, they have still closed all offices. I still need to get medications filled and have access to my medical records. Unfortunately, the news reports are only centering on “scaring” everybody to death. What about those of us who need follow up care who are not infected? Even if we get a new doctor, expect waiting lists to get in and showing up without your records which may include x-rays and reports. So many will have to have all of them redone.

Comment by Yankee54 — March 5, 2008 @ 11:49 pm

As a health care professional, I would like to blame YOU, the consumer, for this outrage. Why? Well, instead of supporting your local non-profit hospital, you chose the cheaper, lower co-pay FOR PROFIT hospital, to save money for you and insurance. A cheap outpatient clinic where every penny is pinched, even using one-use vials for multiple patients. As doctors built their own centers in the 90’s, and cherry picked all the profitable (paying) customers to their own centers, non profit and community hospitals were left with no-pays and indigent patients, and thats why we’re all broke, because we follow the rules, we dont pinche the pennies, we have the policies, that’s why it costs more you retards. And you have the gall to be outraged! It reminds me of all the people who complain about lost manufacturing jobs, but who shop at Walmart and Target exclusively, buying chinese. Want to buy an American shirt, pay $60. Want to buy chinese or latin shirt, pay 12.99. Thus, NC clothing makers went out of business, and soon your local hospital will too.

I feel sorry for the poor doctors, because I seriously doubt this was the method of infection. The first thing to remember is that hundreds of metal instruments and probes are re-used after touching infected patients and being washed and re-sterilized. The people washing and sterilizing these instruments are the lowest educated people in healthcare, working in the basement.

I have my doubts that people were infected this way. I believe a lot of good anesthetists are going to be thrown out with the bathwater. Let me explain: the long administration tube that’s attached to your arm has a port, far away from your bloodstream. Drugs are added far away from your arm, then fluid is used to “chase” drugs into your veins. So basically, the syringe doesnt touch you, so why waste it? I see no problem using them again, provided you change the sterile tubing. I have no doubt that fresh sterile tubing and fresh introducer needles were used on each patient. Sort of like frito dip, its ok if you dont double dip. The actual drug syringe never contacted anybody, just one sterile fluid tubing set followed by another. Honestly, I cant see how one could be infected this way, and I’m in anesthesia!

I would investigate and culture the endoscopes, those are usually filthy. The same scopes that go in your throat one day could have been in someone’s butt. Ha ha, bet you didnt know that! My advice, dont scapegoat anesthesia, check the scopes and instruments, thats far more likely to infect since its actually TOUCHED the infected patient and was re-used.

I wish people on this board wouldnt over-react with hystrionics. If I was a patiend there, I would worry more about the sterilization of the scopes rather than using a sterile vial on two patients. Sounds like a scapegoat to me.

Comment by Scott Johnson — March 6, 2008 @ 12:09 am

Well, thank God it wasn’t a “hate crime,” because that would make everything worse, right?

–NOT IN THE EYES OF THE VICTIM IT WOULDN’T!!!—

Comment by Michael — March 6, 2008 @ 1:14 am

When I read this story I was thoroughly disgusted with these low life scumbags calling themselves Doctors and nurses. As a 40 year old I have lived my life in a totally different manner than those a generation ahead of me because of the blood pathogen HIV. Not a coward I have backed down from psychical altercations with persons I could have slaughtered that needed their ass whipped but that chance of them having HIV kept me from pugilism. When I was single I took every precaution to insure I would not get infected and we have these disgusting looser who try to save a few dollars risk your life your spouses your children. How victims many are organ donors or donate blood these health care gangsters need to be sent to the sodomy capitol of the entire prison world. As far as they are concerned there isn’t a punishment on this planet that can rectify their attacks on their victims.

Comment by Sean A. — March 6, 2008 @ 1:53 am

Majority owner and other management ought to be hanged in the public square and any other medical professional knowingly going along with this ought to have their professional licenses revoked for life.

Comment by Bob — March 6, 2008 @ 2:03 am

Comment by E J McCormick — March 5, 2008 @ 11:32 am

Your comment was spot on there is a needle exchange for drug addicts. Some organizations have given these users bleach to clean out the needles to prevent infection if they cant get back to the exchange I hate drugs addicts they are the walking dead but knowing what I know we need these programs to prevent infection in others.
What these people did in these clinics is criminal and right up there with terrorism.OMG A gallon of bleach is nothing had they just wanted to save money they could have done so and cleaned the rigs out prior to using them on the next victim.
After watching SICKO I am fearful anytime we can get sick and they will auction off all your belongings as you wither away. Health care is the most important issue facing Americans today you can work and do everything right go to college be the best in your field and the insurance company deny your coverage or call your cure experimental and you are on your own even if you win in the courts you will still be dead and long gone once you have proven your case. We are all slaves in this current system they take you at your worst when you are powerless to fight. If you do fight you will be gone soon if you are chronic in your disease.
I will inspect the needles in my doctor’s office from now on prior to an injection.
I feel for all of you that have to endure this time of not knowing. I once had an HIV test and it was the longest 2 months not knowing. After that close call I decided to be celebate rather than run the risk of infection.
What I can’t understand is why isn’t this on the national coverage other than Drudge Report.
TO THE MEDIA WHO CARES WHO THE F WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT WHEN WE HAVE SICKNESS FORCED UPON PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO REMAIN WELL! YOUR FIRED!

Comment by Sean A. — March 6, 2008 @ 2:42 am

I had an EGD done and thus far I haven’t received any type of notification on testing or anything else for that matter!!!! I am a medical assistant at a local IM office and have lived in the same home for 5 years. Not quite sure why I, or several of my patients haven’t been informed of anything!…..wheres all these letters???? I have only seen one of all the patients I have come into contact with!!!!

Comment by tracy — March 6, 2008 @ 6:03 am

In my opinion, each physician responsible should lose their license to practice medicine and should be tried for murder for any patients who die because of their greed and negligence.

Comment by Russ Matthews — March 6, 2008 @ 6:11 am

This is elementary stuff. The military during Korea reused needles and syringes. I personally handled most all the laboratory needles and syringes in a 1200 bed Army hospital. I ran the “drawing’ room.” First the needles were deburred using a wet stone, then, mounted in petri dishes arrayed in a circle stuck in a 4×4 gauze sponge, then autoclaved. (that’s sterilization under steam heat and pressure which raises the boiling point of water to about 160 deg centigrade, water boils at 100 degs centigrade)The syringes got the same treatment. A minimum 300+ of these guys six days a week.

Comment by Medicare Bob — March 6, 2008 @ 6:18 am

Did I hear ANYBODY say ILLEGAL WORKERS????

Comment by bleeda — March 6, 2008 @ 8:19 am

My questions is what about all the Culinary workers who went to these clinics? Is there any chance they could have infected the masses? Will they lose their jobs if they test positive for Hip C since some are food handlers?

Comment by aw — March 6, 2008 @ 8:26 am

Why is this not on the national news??? As we get more and more people from these third world countries with their third world idea of cleanliness and care this is just the beginning. I left the west coast because of the exposier to these people, their lack of values and their diseases.

I hope these inhuman animals, that put so many at risk, are all thrown in prison but I wouldn’t count on it. This type of story has been played over and over by the foreign doctors and the culprits get off scot-free and live to practice in another state, destroying more lives.

Comment by Linda Jones — March 6, 2008 @ 8:28 am

For all of those who are infected with Hep C or any other liver disease, I’d like to share with you some advice. Dr Andrew Weil MD is a medical doctor who is also a proponent of natural remedies. There is no vaccine against Hep C, and the treatment doesn’t work for everyone, and everyone is not a candidate for treatment anyway, so people with liver problems should take milk thistle on a regular basis. Along with a healthy diet, plenty of rest, and avoidance of alchohol and other drugs, milk thistle has a theraputic effect on the liver. Please see his website www.drweil.com

Comment by Carol — March 6, 2008 @ 8:52 am

I have been sick with worry since this story broke!! Having some family and many friends that went to this clinic makes me angry!!! I think ALL the individuals who participated in this attempted murder of at LEAST 40,000 should not only be locked up in pen 23 hrs a day;but INJECTED WITH HIV OR HEP!!! I have seen the effects of HIV on a friend that passed away and I tell you–it is the most painful devastating thing to watch!! Also, the terrorist theory crossed my mind too!! These are dangerous times we live in and you can never underestimate what lenghts people will go to!!! My thoughts are with everyone who has crossed that clinic– think positive thoughts!!!

Comment by Michelle K. — March 6, 2008 @ 9:29 am

Third World Doctors, Third World Care
Patient care has gone down the tubes. We are all in trouble. It is all about the almighty dollar, Drug companys spending millions for TV and magazine/ newspaper Ads advertising perscription drugs.
Medical standards like proper sterilization being ignored so they can save money.
Hospitals also need to be monitored, how clean are their hospital rooms and operaterating rooms.
It is bad enough to get sick, but worst when we lose trust in our Doctors and medical staff.
Why in the hell should we as patients and some very sick patients ask the Doctor if he is following sterile procedures?
The clinics, Doctors,Nurses anyone who knew what was going on should be liable. This behavior should not be tolerated.
Several of my friends and neighbors had procedures done at that clinic,they are dealing with an illness already, now they have to worry about blood tests and if they have contracted heptititis and HIV..

Comment by Mary Ann Owen — March 6, 2008 @ 9:33 am

In all the talk about the medical practitioners that have committed these crimes, it has been brought up that the patient should ask if the equipment, medication, syringes, etc. are fresh and sanitized. Excuse my ignorance, but if the staff is told to practice an unsanitary act, do you really believe they would tell you if what they are doing could cause additional harm? Or, that they are just trying to save a little money (so they can make higher profits)? Somehow, I don’t think so. What recourse do patients have if they are being lied to by ommission or directly?

Comment by Debbie — March 6, 2008 @ 9:42 am

In 1999, my wife Barbara feilen was put on a dangerous drug for Ulcerative Colitis by a doctor at the Shadow lane address. He was required to have Barbara’s blood tested at least every two weeks because of the liklyhood of the drug, 6MP (Purinthal) causing severe anemia. He noted in her chart that the bloodwork order had been written when in fact the order was never written. This doctor then retired from practice prior to our next visit. Barbara went into severe anemia and no one knew the cause. She underwent a bone marrow biopsy thar was negative and a 2 liter slow drip (10 hours) of whole blood. She was dying. The doctor who took over the treatment, one of Dr. Desai’s named partners couldn’t figure out why. Finally, after a few months of my wife wasting away, the doctor read her medications out loud to us and I asked “what about the Purinthal?” “What Purinthal??” was the response. The notes of the retired doctor was buried in the mass of paperwork in the chart. Prior to filing a mal-practice lawsuit, our family physician Dr. Frank Tiffany tried to get Disai to settle with us. Disai told Frank that “The Feilen’s can go to hell before I give them a cent.” KARMA!! What is going to happen to Disai is worth more than I could have gotten. P.S. Barbara recovered and we sold our home in Las Vegas and moved to South Carolina, where we have found the best doctors in any place we ever lived. I’ve been waiting 9 years for payback. A sidenote to Dr. Disai - PAYBACK IS A B***H!!

Comment by Ron Feilen — March 6, 2008 @ 9:58 am

years gone by…
as you’ve seen the C in me,
thinking the c in me ,
could never be seen in you,
now you see the C in you,
forgetting about the C in me.
now the C in me (not knowing)
is going to help you
as the C in me, will hopefully find,
a cure for the C in you,
as the C in me is way ahead,
of the C you.
Keep the faith, there is hope for you, not me.
as the C in me is geno type 1b.

My thoughts & prayers for all that are being affected by a situation that could have, and should been stopped years ago. But it was all swept under the rug. Shame on those that new this was a corrupt doctor long ago. Read proverbs 10: 24-25.
a concerned citizen,
Anonymous

Comment by gregory faircloth — March 6, 2008 @ 10:32 am