Infection
Class-action lawsuit filed after Mass. hospital patients possibly exposed to HIV, hepatitis
Nov
Mass General Brigham Salem Hospital is facing a class-action lawsuit after hundreds of patients may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis. The lawsuit, which is against Mass General Brigham, Salem Hospital and 10 hospital employees, accuses the hospital of negligently administrating intravenous medications during endoscopy procedures between June of 2021 and April of this year. The hospital said the risk of infection is very low — and no infections have been identified.In a statement, the hospital said it was made aware of the isolated practice involving endoscopy patients earlier this year. Examples of endoscopic procedures include colonoscopies and gastrointestinal ultrasounds.The hospital said the practice was immediately corrected once it was notified and that the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it performed an onsite investigation at Salem Hospital. DPH’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality and the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences are working with Mass General Brigham’s infection control team to manage the situation.Both DPH and Salem Hospital said the infection risk to patients is extremely small, and there is no known evidence of infections resulting from the exposures. Exposed patients are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, Salem Hospital said.A spokesperson for Salem Hospital said all patients possibly exposed have been notified, and 90% have either completed, scheduled or declined free testing.The Mass General Brigham spokesperson said patients who have not been notified have no need to be concerned.
Mass General Brigham Salem Hospital is facing a class-action lawsuit after hundreds of patients may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis.
The lawsuit, which is against Mass General Brigham, Salem Hospital and 10 hospital employees, accuses the hospital of negligently administrating intravenous medications during endoscopy procedures between June of 2021 and April of this year.
Advertisement
The hospital said the risk of infection is very low — and no infections have been identified.
In a statement, the hospital said it was made aware of the isolated practice involving endoscopy patients earlier this year. Examples of endoscopic procedures include colonoscopies and gastrointestinal ultrasounds.
The hospital said the practice was immediately corrected once it was notified and that the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it performed an onsite investigation at Salem Hospital. DPH’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality and the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences are working with Mass General Brigham’s infection control team to manage the situation.
Both DPH and Salem Hospital said the infection risk to patients is extremely small, and there is no known evidence of infections resulting from the exposures. Exposed patients are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, Salem Hospital said.
A spokesperson for Salem Hospital said all patients possibly exposed have been notified, and 90% have either completed, scheduled or declined free testing.
The Mass General Brigham spokesperson said patients who have not been notified have no need to be concerned.
