Northwest Hospital HIV and Hepatitis Lawsuit
Risk of HIV or Hepatitis B and C for Northwest Hospital & Medical Center Patients
Patients of Northwest Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle, Washington are being notified and many have received letters to urge testing for HIV and Hepatitis B and C. According to reports, one of Northwest Hospital’s surgical workers was working in the hospital from December 30, 2011 through March 2012 and is suspected of exposing patients to contaminated needles or other operating room materials. We are advising victims in the lawsuit against Northwest Hospital at no cost. Contact us : fill out the form on this page or call us at 213-212-2202.
Background
The surgical worker, Rocky Allen, who has since been indicted on two federal laws, worked at seven different medical facilities identified so far. It’s reported that at Swedish Hospital in Colorado, he was caught stealing a syringe filled with fentanyl from an operating room, was tested for fentanyl in his blood and it was positive. It appears he was taking fentanyl and using the same syringes as patients.
Patients should be tested and the testing will need to be on-going, according to medical experts. However, patients have legal rights and should seek legal advice. Our lawyers are standing by to help victims of this violation.
If you or a someone you know has been a surgery patient at any of these hospitals during those times when exposure was possible, please contact us: fill out the form or call 213-212-2202
Prior Contaminaton at Hospitals in Washington and Arizona
Allen’s prior hospital employment (and termination) includes Lakewood Surgery Center in Lakewood, Washington. Lakewood Surgery Center has notified patients who had surgery during Allen’s employment to recommend that they be tested for blood-borne pathogens.
Approximately 135 patients who had surgery at Lakewood Surgery Center between Oct. 27, 2011 and Dec. 1, 2011 are being notified of the potential for exposure. Allen was a Navy Hospital Corpsman at the Bremerton Navy Hospital from 2008-2011. A spokesman says he was not involved in operating rooms during his time there and had no access to controlled substances. That is why Navy is not asking patients to be tested.
Victims are Located in Washington, Arizona, Colorado and Calfornia
Victims were placed at an increased risk of these bloodborne pathogens because former surgical technician, Allen, was diverting drugs and exchanging needles prepared for surgical patients. Despite Allen’s well-documented drug addiction and unstable history and employment history, Swedish Hospital in Englewood, Colorado hired him as a surgical technician where his activities exposed approximately 3,000 patients to bloodborne pathogens. See our article about Swedish Hospital HERE.
Victims have been, and will need to continue to be, tested for these potentially deadly viruses.
Swedish Hospital has issued notices to almost 3,000 patients for exposure created by Allen. Swedish Hospital and Medical Center is being sued and we are taking cases for their role in exposing thousands of patients by hiring a surgical technologist who may have exposed them to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
If you have received a letter from Swedish Hospital telling you to get testing, contact us for your free legal evaluation. We are accepting cases and you don’t have to pay any lawyer fees. Contact us : fill out the form on this page or call us at 213-212-2202.
Allen was asso employed at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, California, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, and Banner Thunderbird in Glendale, Arizona.
Contact Us
If you or a someone you know has been a surgery patient at any of these hospitals during those times when exposure was possible, please contact us 213-212-2202