In the wake of the 43 cases of hepatitis C that have been diagnosed throughout the nation, all attributed to one man, one state in which the man was employed and spread the disease, is exploring changes to the procedures surrounding licensure of health professionals. The recommendations are the result of an investigation that was conducted by health officials in the state of Maryland.
According to the report there are a variety of issues responsible for the man finding work at hospitals throughout the nation despite repeated terminations of employment due to matters such as drug abuse and falsifying time cards. These matters include:
- Problems with licensing and credentialing
- Failures in regulations regarding the temporary staffing agencies he used to find employment
- Lapses in management in hospitals
These issues lead to the man being employed in facilities where he reportedly spread the disease to patients.
The man apparently did not have any trouble obtaining a radiographer license. He was able to obtain the professional license despite having been on probation for drunk driving and either being terminated or suspended from previous jobs. The licensing board apparently did not follow-up with any of his previous employers or run a criminal background check. The report suggests that both be done in the future.
It is possible that having those measures in place could have prevented the man from spreading hepatitis C to so many individuals throughout the country. Now however, those individuals have no choice but to deal with the disease via the often painful treatment. In addition to addressing the physical aspect of the injury, many have also filed a medical malpractice claim to try to seek financial damages.
Source: The Washington Post, "Report highlights weaknesses in case of health worker who exposed thousands to hepatitis C," Lena H. Sun, March 20, 2013