A Merrimack County Superior Court judge has ruled that Exeter (N.H.) Hospital must allow state officials to broadly access patient records, according to a Foster's Daily Democrat report.
Last month, the hospital requested the court to block state officials from accessing patient records as the health department investigates a hepatitis C outbreak allegedly caused by a former hospital technician. David Kwiatkowski, who is now under arrest, allegedly injected himself with the anesthetic fentanyl and refilled the syringes with saline before administering the injections to patients. So far, 32 Exeter Hospital patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and similar testing and investigations have sparked in other states.
In its request to the court last month, Exeter Hospital argued access to confidential health information could violate state and federal laws. In his ruling, Judge Richard McNamara argued the state's requests for patient information "are lawful and appropriate."
Last month, the hospital requested the court to block state officials from accessing patient records as the health department investigates a hepatitis C outbreak allegedly caused by a former hospital technician. David Kwiatkowski, who is now under arrest, allegedly injected himself with the anesthetic fentanyl and refilled the syringes with saline before administering the injections to patients. So far, 32 Exeter Hospital patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and similar testing and investigations have sparked in other states.
In its request to the court last month, Exeter Hospital argued access to confidential health information could violate state and federal laws. In his ruling, Judge Richard McNamara argued the state's requests for patient information "are lawful and appropriate."
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