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March 19, 2024

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Hepatitis scare

Dr. Dipak Desai, majority owner of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, leaves Las Vegas City Hall on March 3. Desai has surrendered his medical license pending the outcome of a state investigation.

Photo by Steve Marcus / Las Vegas Sun

Dr. Dipak Desai, majority owner of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, leaves Las Vegas City Hall on March 3. Desai has surrendered his medical license pending the outcome of a state investigation.

The largest hepatitis outbreak scare in the nation is playing out in Las Vegas, where 50,000 patients at an endoscopy center may have been exposed to infectious diseases because of unhygienic practices.

Share Your Experience

Patients and current or former employees of Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada who wish to share their experiences at the clinic are invited to e-mail Las Vegas Sun health reporter Marshall Allen.

So far, 114 patients have been identified by health authorities as having been potentially infected with hepatitis C at the clinic, which has been shut down — along with five sister clinics in the valley.

Criminal investigations are underway and the state’s medical and nursing boards are investigating the situation, which some nurses say was triggered by the clinic owner’s drive for profit at the expense of patient safety.

Frequently asked questions about the incident

Archive highlights

Voices of reason for health care crisis

Sun, Mar 16, 2008

In the midst of the largest hepatitis C scare in the nation’s history, many Nevadans have lost confidence in their health care providers. About 40,000 people have been told they ...

Assembly-line colonoscopies at clinic described

Sun, Mar 9, 2008

If you want to get a sense of the rushed medical procedures that patients encountered inside the clinic that triggered the unprecedented hepatitis scare, consider Duke Breuer’s experience. After undergoing ...

How hepatitis probe led to clinic

Sun, Mar 2, 2008

There was no cause for alarm when, on Dec. 4, health investigators learned of a case of acute hepatitis C.

All stories

State Supreme Court set to hear Clark County cases

Wed, Apr 27, 2011

The Nevada Supreme Court is scheduled next week in Carson City to consider five Clark County cases that include disputes involving medical malpractice, eminent domain, smoking, hepatitis C and construction.

Dipak Desai ordered to mental facility after found not competent for trial

Tue, Feb 8, 2011

The man allegedly at the center of the hepatitis C scare that rocked the Las Vegas area about three years ago has been found incompetent to stand trial — at ...

Henderson doctor linked to 8 deaths says board bowed to political pressure

Mon, Jan 24, 2011

A Nevada doctor implicated by authorities in the deaths of eight patients is leveling new allegations against the State Board of Medical Examiners over its suspension of his authority to ...

Panel OKs fee increase to cover inspections after hepatitis outbreak

Thu, Jan 13, 2011

CARSON CITY – To avoid a repeat of the 2008 hepatitis outbreak in Las Vegas, the state is going to impose fee increases to cover the cost of unannounced inspections ...

Drug companies appeal $522 million judgment in hepatitis outbreak

Wed, Jan 12, 2011

CARSON CITY – Two drug companies have formally lodged their appeal in Nevada Supreme Court to overturn a $522.4 million judgment awarded to a Henderson man, one of the victims ...

No decision yet on Desai competency to stand trial

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

Dr. Dipak Desai appeared briefly in court today, but no decisions were made as to his competency to stand trial. Desai has been charged in connection with the 2007-2008 hepatitis ...

Evaluations ordered for doctor in hepatitis C outbreak

Wed, Jul 21, 2010

The doctor at the center of the hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas has been ordered to undergo a physical and mental medical evaluation to determine if he will be ...

Local doctor discusses improving patient care

Fri, Jul 16, 2010

Dr. Howard Hack, a local gastroenterologist, recently attended the annual meeting of the Arizona Medical Association to discuss means of improving patient care.

Nurse in hepatitis C case pleads not guilty

Wed, Jun 23, 2010

A nurse anaesthetist charged in connection with the 2008 hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Clark County District Court.

Dipak Desai pleads not guilty in hepatitis C case

Fri, Jun 11, 2010

One of the key figures involved in the hepatitis C scare that affected some 50,000 Las Vegas Valley residents two years ago pleaded not guilty Friday morning in Clark County ...

Judge continues Desai's arraignment in hepatitis case until Friday

Wed, Jun 9, 2010

One of the key figures involved in the hepatitis C scare that affected some 50,000 Las Vegas Valley residents two years ago has had his first criminal hearing continued until ...

Second man charged in hepatitis C outbreak arrested

Tue, Jun 8, 2010

One of the two employees charged with Dr. Dipak Desai in connection with crimes related to a 2008 hepatitis C outbreak was arrested Tuesday. Keith Harry Mathahs, 74, is being ...

Dipak Desai posts $1 million bail in hepatitis C case

Mon, Jun 7, 2010

The man who is the key defendant in the hepatitis scare that shook Las Vegas two years ago was able to post bail Monday to stay out of jail. Dr. ...

Grand jury indicts Dr. Dipak Desai in hepatitis outbreak

Fri, Jun 4, 2010

A Clark County grand jury has indicted Dr. Dipak Desai -- a high-profile subject of investigations related to the 2008 hepatitis C outbreak -- and two others in connection with ...

Las Vegas hepatitis cases spark CDC training video

Sun, May 30, 2010

A new training video illustrating safe handling of medications and injections by medical professionals was prompted by a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas, a federal medical officer said.

Videos

IBTV: Jon Ralston:  Now That's Juice
IBTV: Jon Ralston: Now That's Juice
The owners of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada must forfeit their business license and ...
Face to Face: Done Deal
Face to Face: Done Deal
The City of Las Vegas hearing into the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada was a ...
Endoscopy Public Comment
Endoscopy Public Comment
The massive hepatitis C scare is a defining moment in Nevada health care, for doctors, ...
Endoscopy Patient Reacts
Endoscopy Patient Reacts
Arnold “Duke” Breuer of Las Vegas went to a Quest laboratory Monday to have a ...
Hepatitis Scare Roundtable
Hepatitis Scare Roundtable
The Sun invited four experts to sit around a table and hold a conversation about ...
A Professional Approach
A Professional Approach
Senior epidemiologist Brian Labus shares his professional approach to the largest hepatitis C scare in ...

Slideshows

Endoscopy Center hearing
At a City Hall hearing Monday, attorneys representing the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada appealed ...