Thousands at risk of Hepatitis C as medical tech is arrested

Published July 15 2009 inSexual Health
stopwatch1 minutes read

Up to 6,000 patients may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis C, following the arrest of a medical technician. Kirsten Diane Parker, 26, is accused of swapping her dirty needles for new ones filled with painkillers, which were meant for patients.

Parker, who was addicted to painkillers, tested positive for Hepatitis C and worked at the Rose Medical Centre in Denver and the Colorado Springs Audubon Ambulatory Surgery between October of last year and June 2009. 6,000 patients who had surgery at the medical centres during that time have been urged to get tested for hepatitis C, with 10 cases already been linked to former Rose patients.

Parker told detectives that she carried used syringes filled with saline in her pocket and swapped them for syringes filled with Fentanyl from operating tables. Fentanyl is a narcotic that is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike has been delivering world class Sexually Transmitted Infections testing services to Better2Know patients around the world for over ten years. He has written extensively on the subject, including numerous blogs for Better2Know which are designed to demystify the complex intricacies of sexual health testing. Mike wants to help his readers understand the risks they take in their daily sexual lives and provide the information they need when choosing an STI or STD test in a clear, concise and understandable way. Mike is particularly interested in writing about viral STIs like HIV and Hepatitis, as these infections can have a devastating impact on people’s lives if they are not diagnosed quickly. Only through being well informed can you best care for your health, and Mike is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience to help you and all his readers lead a happier, healthier life.