Officials: Long Island Physician Reused Needles, 630 Patients At Risk for HIV, Hepatitis
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
MELVILLE, N.Y. — New York health officials say about 630 patients of a Long Island physician who reused needles and syringes may be at risk for HIV and hepatitis B and C.
The officials said Tuesday that the at-risk patients were notified by letters sent in the mail last week after a three-year investigation was concluded.
At least two of the patients of the unidentified Nassau County physician have already contracted hepatitis C, an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Officials have known about the infections for about a year and a half.
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.
