The FBI is investigating a traveling hospital technician hired for temporary assignments around the country and accused of spreading hepatitis C to at least 30 patients via contaminated syringes.
David Kwiatkowski, 33, is suspected of illegally injecting himself with fentanyl, most often used as a pain killer for cancer patients or after surgery, and refilling the syringes with saline. Patients were later injected with those syringes.
Kwiatkowski claims he didn’t know he had hepatitis C until May of this year. However, records show Kwiatkowski contracted hepatitis C in June 2010.
The hospital in which Kwiatkowski worked claims he was drug tested prior to being hired. According to the Associated Press, Kwiatkowski’s peers say they sometimes saw him leaving the lab sweating heavily and working on days he should’ve been off.
Kwiatkowski has worked in at least half a dozen states throughout the U.S., so they are now reportedly investigating whether their patients were infected with hepatitis C, which destroys the liver.
Once he is well enough to be released from a treatment program, Kwiatkowski will be charged with obtaining controlled substances by fraud and tampering with a consumer product.
His careless actions have spurred at least two dozen medical malpractice lawsuits, including a possible class action lawsuit involving 90 people. So far, 31 people, including Kwiatkowski, are infected, but at least 1,100 others may be as well.
What precautions do you think could have prevented this? Cameras in the lab? An employee stationed in the lab who monitors comings and goings? We welcome your thoughts below.
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