Patients at Risk from Long Island Doctor Who Reused Needles

Jenny Albano

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At least 630 patients may be at risk for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C after a Long Island doctor reused needles and syringes on patients, states new York health officials.

The at risk patients were only notified of the problem last week after a three-year investigation was finished. It is known that at least two of the doctors patients have already contracted hepatitis C, which is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Officials have known about the infections in these patients for over a year and a half and are just now informing the doctor's other patients.

State health department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton says the physician, an anesthesiologist, could not be identified because of rules set by the state's disciplinary board for doctors.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.