Catherine Masto Cortez
Las Vegas, Nev. (Legal Newsline)-Nevada Attorney General Catherine Masto Cortez is seeking to prevent two doctors linked to a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas from practicing medicine pending an investigation by state regulators.
Meanwhile, the state Board of Medical Examiners too filed complaints Monday against Drs. Dipak Desai and Eladio Carrera.
Desai runs the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and Carrera worked at the center.
Authorities say they have traced eight cases of hepatitis C to the facility and an affiliated center, where officials say staff members reused needles and vials of single-use medication on multiple patients, exposing at least 50,000 patients to hepatitis and HIV.
The clinics have since surrendered their business licenses and paid a total of $500,000 in fines.
State lawmakers, frustrated that the two doctors were able to continue practicing medicine after revelations of the outbreak, on Friday called on Gov. Jim Gibbons to push the medical board to suspend the doctors' licenses or appoint a special counsel to investigate.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo by e-mail at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.