Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada
Encyclopedia
Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada is a private same day surgery facility localed in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. It is owned by Dr. Dipak Desai (65%), Dr. Eladio Carrera (14%) Dr. Clifford Carrol and Dr. Vishvinder Sharma.
In February 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District sent out notices to 40,000 patients informing them that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis C and HIV at the center from "unsafe injection practices related to the administration of anesthesia medication might have exposed patients to the blood of other patients". This was at the time, the largest such notification in the United States
. This was the result of an investigation by the health district, the Nevada State Bureau of Licensure and Certification (BLC) and with consultation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
. Prior to this, the largest outbreak, linked to bad injection practices, occurred in Fremont, Nebraska
, where 99 cancer patients were infected at an oncology center from 2001 to 2002. At least one died.
The city of Las Vegas closed the center on February 29, 2008 when it issued an emergency suspension of its business license
. The city denied an appeal of this suspension on March 3, 2008.
Investigations by the FBI and the Nevada Attorney General
were announced to investigate the practices at the center.
On March 3, 2008 it was announced that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
and the Clark County District Attorney
would be conducting an investigation into shoddy medical practices that exposed patients to potentially deadly infections.
On July 17, 2009 the center, along with others involved in the problem, filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It is owned by Dr. Dipak Desai (65%), Dr. Eladio Carrera (14%) Dr. Clifford Carrol and Dr. Vishvinder Sharma.
In February 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District sent out notices to 40,000 patients informing them that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis C and HIV at the center from "unsafe injection practices related to the administration of anesthesia medication might have exposed patients to the blood of other patients". This was at the time, the largest such notification in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This was the result of an investigation by the health district, the Nevada State Bureau of Licensure and Certification (BLC) and with consultation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
. Prior to this, the largest outbreak, linked to bad injection practices, occurred in Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha in the eastern part of the state. The population was 26,397 at the 2010 census....
, where 99 cancer patients were infected at an oncology center from 2001 to 2002. At least one died.
2008 Hepatitis C outbreak
The Southern Nevada Health District began an investigation into the center in January 2008 after receiving reports of two Hepatitis C cases, the normal amount that the Health District sees in an average year. The common factor was the Endoscopy Center. Later the Health District determined that five additional patients apparently contracted Hepatitis C after being patients there on the same day in September. The exposures are believed to have occurred between March 2004 and January 11, 2008.The city of Las Vegas closed the center on February 29, 2008 when it issued an emergency suspension of its business license
Business license
Business licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow individuals or companies to conduct business within the government's geographical jurisdiction. It is the authorization to start a business issued by the local government....
. The city denied an appeal of this suspension on March 3, 2008.
Investigations by the FBI and the Nevada Attorney General
Nevada Attorney General
The Nevada Attorney General is the top legal officer for the state of Nevada. The functions of the office are set forth in Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 228. The Attorney General represents the people of Nevada in civil and criminal matters before trial, appellate and the supreme courts of...
were announced to investigate the practices at the center.
On March 3, 2008 it was announced that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
and the Clark County District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
would be conducting an investigation into shoddy medical practices that exposed patients to potentially deadly infections.
On July 17, 2009 the center, along with others involved in the problem, filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Related centers
Other centers involved in the investigation include:- Gastroenterology Center of Nevada - multiple locations
- Spanish Hills Surgical Center
- Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center