Oregon Anesthesiologist Suspended After Potentially Exposing Over 2,000 Patients to HIV, Hepatitis

An Oregon anesthesiologist has been suspended following concerns that patients at Portland-area hospitals may have been exposed to infectious diseases.

Over 2,000 patients across Providence Portland Willamette Falls Medical Center and Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center have been notified of potential exposure to HIV and Hepatitis, according to KGW8.

Legacy Health, which operates affected facilities, identified the breach involving a third-party Oregon anesthesiologist contracted through the Oregon Anesthesiology Group, according to the Independent.

The doctor began working at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in December 2023 and was promptly suspended upon discovery of the issue.

Legacy Health and Providence Health & Services are actively investigating the breach. Legacy Health has initiated contact with 221 potentially impacted Oregon patientsh, delaying surgeries as a precaution.

Providence Health & Services, addressing concerns at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and Portland Medical Center, has assured affected patients of low-risk exposure and offered free screenings.

Oregon Anesthesiology Group's Actions

Oregon hospitals acted against a physician for violating infection control practices, leading to suspension and termination.

This prompted the implementation of new protocols to prevent future incidents, CBS News noted.

The Oregon Health Authority is conducting investigations alongside Legacy Health and Providence concerning breaches in infection control.

Despite the breach, health officials have not received reports of illnesses associated with the incident.

The focus stays on ensuring patient safety and refining procedures to uphold rigorous infection control standards across healthcare facilities in the state.

Healthcare Oversight and Patient Notifications

Providence, a nonprofit Catholic health care system, is notifying 2,200 potentially affected individuals at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two at Providence Portland Medical Center due to a physician's actions posing a low infection risk.

Oregon patients will be contacted for test results and next steps if positive.

Providence emphasized patient safety as its top priority, ensuring a thorough review and appropriate measures.

The unnamed physician, formerly with Oregon Anesthesiology Group, worked at Providence from 2017 to 2023.

OAG, implementing new protocols, no longer employs physicians, Fox News reports.

Legacy Health, where the Oregon anesthesiologist also worked, is notifying 221 potentially affected patients and suspending the provider immediately upon discovery of the issue.

Hepatitis, caused by viruses like Hepatitis B and C, results in liver inflammation with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and fatigue.

Extreme cases can lead to liver failure and death, warns the WHO.

HIV infections begin with flu-like symptoms and weaken the immune system by attacking T-cells, making patients vulnerable to infections.

Untreated HIV can be fatal, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

HIV and Hepatitis spread through semen, blood, or other body fluids, sharing similar risk factors such as unprotected sex and injection drug use, according to HIVinfo.NIH.gov.

Around 10% of people with HIV in the US also have HBV, known as HIV/HBV coinfection.

In those with coinfection, chronic HBV can lead to faster progression to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and liver cancer, but it doesn't accelerate HIV progression.

The CDC advises all people with HIV to get tested for HBV, which can be detected even without symptoms.

Various blood tests for HBV reveal different information; for instance, a positive HBsAg test indicates that the person has acute or chronic HBV and can transmit the virus.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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