Tag: Hepatitis B

Judge Hears Arguments in Possible Hepatitis Exposure Case

Arguments have been presented in the case involving patients possibly exposed to hepatitis at Beckley’s Raleigh Heart Clinic.

WVVA-TV reports attorney Steve New, who represents 65 of the 140 patients, asked Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick Thursday to consider their cases as part of a class action lawsuit, saying his clients contracted hepatitis from the clinic.

The clinic’s attorney, Don Sensabaugh, asked that the cases be tried separately.

The state Department of Health and Human Resources sent letters to over 2,300 clinic patients in March, saying they may have been exposed to hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

At the time, officials said they were investigating 12 cases of hepatitis linked to injectable medications given during cardiac stress tests.

Kirkpatrick will make his ruling at a later date.

New Cases of Possible Hepatitis Exposure at Heart Clinic

More cases involving patients possibly exposed to hepatitis at a heart clinic in West Virginia have emerged.

 

Attorney Stephen New tells WVVA-TV that his firm has 60 clients who he believes contracted hepatitis from the Raleigh Heart Clinic in Beckley.

More than 2,300 clinic patients received letters from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in March, saying they may have been exposed to hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

 

At the time, health officials said they were investigating 12 cases of hepatitis linked to injectable medications given during cardiac stress tests at the clinic.

 

In May, Raleigh County commissioners approved more than $8,600 to the health department to help cover the costs of testing.

County to Help Pay for Hepatitis Testing for Clinic Patients

The Raleigh County Commission has voted to cover some of the testing costs for Raleigh Heart Clinic patients possibly exposed to hepatitis.

News outlets report that hundreds of people have been flocking to the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department for testing after officials announced earlier this spring that 16 people have tested positive for hepatitis B or C in connection with cardiac stress tests conducted at the heart clinic.

Raleigh County commissioners on Tuesday approved more than $8,600 to the health department to help cover the costs. The clinic has been billed for reimbursement.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will pay for lab work.

Officials have urged more than 2,300 patients of the heart clinic to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

12 Cases of Hepatitis Linked to Beckley Clinic

Officials have investigated at least 12 cases of hepatitis linked to a heart clinic in Beckley.

The viruses have been linked to injectable medications given during cardiac stress tests at the Raleigh Heart Clinic.

Department of Health and Human Resources Director of Communications Allison Adler says that eight patients receiving cardiac stress tests have tested positive for hepatitis C and four others have tested positive for hepatitis B. There has not been any evidence of HIV transmission.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta says the extent of how many individuals were exposed to the pathogens is unknown. Officials are now urging about 2,300 patients of the Raleigh Heart Clinic to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

Officials Investigate Possible Hepatitis Exposure in Beckley

  The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is urging thousands of patients to get tested after possible hepatitis exposure at a Raleigh County heart clinic.

Multiple media outlets report that a letter issued by the department in Charleston says several cases of viral hepatitis appear to be associated with a cardiac stress test performed at Beckley’s Raleigh Heart Clinic.

The DHHR says all patients who had the stress test at the clinic between March 1, 2012, and March 27, 2015 were sent a copy of the letter.

As a precaution, the department is recommending that all these patients get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Patients and healthcare providers who have questions may call the Bureau for Public Health information line.

Officials are investigating.

Doctor at W.Va. Pain Clinic had Texas License Revoked

  The operator of a West Virginia pain management clinic where an investigation found needles were being reused on patients had his medical license revoked in Texas a decade ago.

Health officials in Ohio and West Virginia advised patients of Valley Pain Management in McMechen on Monday to be tested for blood-borne infectious diseases after an investigation found needles and syringes were reused to administer pain medications and saline solutions.

The clinic is operated by Dr. Roland Chalifoux Jr. His attorney, Elgine McArdle of Wheeling, calls the investigation a “fishing expedition.”

In 2004, the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners revoked Chalifoux’s license for violating standards of care in the treatment of three patients, one of whom died.

The West Virginia Board of Osteopathy granted him a license in 2005.

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