icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
28 Mar, 2013 21:53

Oklahoma health officials warn surgeon may have infected thousands with HIV

Oklahoma health officials warn surgeon may have infected thousands with HIV

Health Department officials in Tulsa, Oklahoma have warned that as many as 7,000 people may have been accidentally infected with HIV, as well as hepatitis B and C, by a local oral surgeon.

Dr. W. Scott Harrington closed his office on March 20 and is cooperating with investigators after one of his patients contracted hepatitis B. Health officials sent a letter to 7,000 of his current and former patients encouraging them to get tested after two visits to his practice by inspectors found multiple violations.

According to the investigation, Harrington committed a felony by unlawfully allowing assistants to perform IV sedation, which only a licensed dentist may do. They also noted other “major violations.”

Harrington has practiced in the Tulsa area for more than 30 years, according to the Tulsa World.

I want to stress that this is not an outbreak,” State Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said.

Officials stressed that exposure to these diseases in dentistry is rare, but anyone who has been treated in the offices in question since 2007 should be tested at one of Tulsa County's free health clinics.

Podcasts
0:00
24:55
0:00
28:50