St. Charles Health Still Scheduled for Trial Over Alleged Failure to Disinfect Colonoscope

A circuit court judge has ruled a case involving Bend, Ore.-based St. Charles Health System and a dirty colonoscope will go forward, according to a KTVZ news report.

In January, St. Charles Medical Center-Bend admitted that it had failed to properly disinfect a colonoscope, which was later used during colonoscopy procedures involving 18 patients. A patient, only referred to as "Jane Doe," sued the hospital for approximately $270,000 in emotional damages and future medical bills.

Last week, St. Charles Health System moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the dirty colonoscope "did not pierce her skin as a needle may" and it was not "offensive in the way sexual abuse is," according to court documents.

Circuit Court Judge Wells Ashby tossed out St. Charles Health System's appeal, and a jury trial has been scheduled for December.

Read the news report about St. Charles Health System's lawsuit.

Read other coverage about hospital quality:

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- Hospitalization May Cause Temporary Memory Loss in Senior Patients

- C. Diff Increases Risk of Death 6-Fold in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

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