A man who claims he was infected with hepatitis C during treatment at Puyallup, Wash.-based MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in December is suing the hospital and its parent company, Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System, according to The News Tribune.
The unidentified man's lawsuit alleges he went to Good Samaritan Hospital with kidney stones Dec. 31 and received treatment from Cora Weberg, a nurse who was arrested May 4 on suspicion of infecting patients with hepatitis C. She was released from jail the same day as her arrest. Ms. Weberg's lawyer said she was let go because there was not enough evidence against her, according to KOMO.
The man who filed the lawsuit against the hospital is allegedly one of two patients who tested positive for hepatitis C after receiving treatment from Ms. Weberg.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department began an investigation into the incident in March, and connected the two infected patients to each other and then to Ms. Weberg, who treated the patients. Using CDC data, health department officials established that the tests revealed a conclusive link between the two patients and the genetic source of the virus. However, the viral material from Ms. Weberg's tests was insufficient to show a genetic link to the patients, though she reportedly tested positive for the disease, according to The News Tribune.
Good Samaritan Hospital officials announced the possible infection of two patients last week, and issued a recommendation to 2,600 patients who were treated in the hospital's ER between August 2017 and March 23 to receive testing for hepatitis C.
The lawsuit filed last week alleges MultiCare and the hospital "failed to properly train, investigate and monitor" Ms. Weberg after patient complaints, according to KOMO.
Local police have recommended prosecutors charge Ms. Weberg, who no longer works at Good Samaritan Hospital, with second-degree assault, contending she stole injectable drugs from Good Samaritan Hospital and knowingly infected two patients with hepatitis C. She has not been charged with a crime.
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