Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Currently: 70° — Complete forecast

Topic:

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

Nevada Supreme Court dismisses appeal by Dr. Dipak Desai

Wed, May 19, 2010

CARSON CITY - The Nevada Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of Dr. Dipak Desai, who sought to overturn an order prohibiting him from selling assets.

Plaintiff: $500 million 'exactly what was needed' to make statement in hepatitis C case

Fri, May 7, 2010

For Henry and Lorraine Chanin, the lawsuit they filed after Henry contracted hepatitis C during a colonoscopy was never about the money. Instead, they say it’s been about getting two ...

Attorney seeking $1 billion in hepatitis C case

Thu, May 6, 2010

The attorney for the lead plaintiff in the case against two drug companies found liable for a Las Vegas man’s hepatitis C infection asked jurors Thursday to award more than ...

Jury finds drugmakers liable in first hepatitis C trial

Wed, May 5, 2010

A jury found two companies that made and distributed the anesthetic propofol used at Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center liable on multiple counts Wednesday, awarding a Las Vegas couple more than ...

Jurors to resume hepatitis C deliberations Wednesday

Tue, May 4, 2010

Jury deliberations in the first civil trial stemming from the outbreak of hepatitis C tied to Las Vegas endoscopy clinics entered their third day Tuesday and will continue Wednesday.

Deliberations continue in first hepatitis C case to reach trial

Mon, May 3, 2010

Jury deliberations resumed Monday in the case of a man suing drug companies after contracting hepatitis C at a Las Vegas endoscopy clinic. Henry Chanin's attorney on Friday asked jurors ...

Jury deliberates in first hepatitis C case to reach trial

Fri, Apr 30, 2010

Jury deliberations are under way in the first civil trial stemming from the hepatitis C outbreak linked to Las Vegas endoscopy clinics. Eight jurors began their deliberations at about 4:30 ...

Expert: Hepatitis C victim suffered multi-million dollar damages

Tue, Apr 27, 2010

Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the first trial connected to the hepatitis C outbreak linked to Southern Nevada endoscopy centers on Tuesday rested their case.

Man recounts hepatitis C’s effect on health, family

Mon, Apr 26, 2010

Henry and Lorraine Chanin had been married almost 30 years when they made a “bucket list” in 2005. Their children were grown and they had plans to see the world ...

Opening arguments begin in first hepatitis C case to reach trial

Mon, Apr 19, 2010

Opening statements are under way in the first trial connected to the outbreak of hepatitis C. Attorney Robert Eglet says the drug companies that manufactured and distributed large vials of ...

Jurors chosen in first hepatitis C case to reach trial

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

A jury has been seated in the first case linked to the outbreak of hepatitis C in Southern Nevada to go to trial. Thousands of lawsuits were filed in the ...

Jury selection begins in first hepatitis C case to reach trial

Mon, Apr 12, 2010

Jury selection began Monday in the first trial linked to the outbreak of hepatitis C in Southern Nevada. A lawsuit filed by Henry Chanin is the first to go before ...

Grand jury gets hepatitis C outbreak case

Thu, Mar 11, 2010

A grand jury is exploring possible criminal charges related to the hepatitis C outbreak, the Clark County District Attorney’s office said today.

Doctor at center of hepatitis scare files for bankruptcy

Thu, Mar 4, 2010

Dr. Dipak Desai, whose Las Vegas clinics were at the center of the 2008 hepatitis scare in Las Vegas, filed for personal Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Friday.

Desai surrenders medical license to state medical board

Wed, Feb 24, 2010

Dr. Dipak Desai, the primary owner of the clinic that caused the nation’s largest healthcare facility-caused Hepatitis C outbreak, surrendered his medical license to the Nevada State Board of Medical ...

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 ...