Patients at Mountain State Vascular clinic in Berkeley, WV, are being urged to get blood tests to check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV after possible exposure. According to officials, the exposure occurred after single-use syringes were used on more than one patient during invasive procedures at the facility.
What Happened?
According to a letter that went out to patients from the Mountain State Vascular clinic, the single-use syringes were used on more than one patient during invasive procedures over a relatively long period of time. Single-use syringes, as the name implies, are supposed to be disposed of immediately after being used on one patient.
According to reports, Mountain State Vascular Medical Director Doctor Brian Whyte said that he reported the issue to state health officials after discovering that a single employee had reused the syringes. Dr. Whyte Believes that only a handful of patients were affected and said that the employee no longer works with the clinic.
Who Is At Risk?
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said in a statement that any patient who visited the Mountain State Vascular clinic from October 27, 2020 to July 7, 2021, should get tested.
Have Any Infections Been Confirmed Yet?
Health officials say that there have been no confirmed infections at this time. This includes no infections of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV. However, health officials say that even if individuals are experiencing no illness symptoms, they need to get tested anyway. Officials say that infections can last for years, with patients experiencing no symptoms at all.
What To Do If You’ve Been Exposed?
If you were a patient at Mountain State Vascular clinic during the dates listed above, you should visit your family practitioner or a local clinic for testing of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
What Are My Legal Options?
If you are injured or become ill as a result of the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University state that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death across this country. These mistakes occur in a wide variety of ways, including improper use of medical devices such as single-use syringes. If the actions of a medical professional or medical facility fall below the accepted medical standard of care, affected patients may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer in West Virginia
If you were or are currently a patient at Mountain State Vascular clinic in Berkeley, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. At Tiano O’Dell, we have extensive experience handling complex personal injury and medical malpractice claims throughout the state of West Virginia.
We want to make sure that your case is fully examined and that we explore all possible routes of compensation if you have been exposed due to the negligence of the medical professionals at this clinic. Our West Virginia personal injury lawyers will fully investigate your claim and handle all communication with other parties on your behalf. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at (304) 720-6700.