Home subscribe manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

News
Mar. 02, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CLARIFICATION, 3/4/08 - A story in Sunday's Review-Journal should have said that Michael Washington, whose case of hepatitis C has been traced to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, suffers from diabetes.

'They've almost given me a death sentence'

By LAWRENCE MOWER
REVIEW-JOURNAL
More Info


Michael Washington, with his wife, Josephine, discusses how being infected with hepatitis C has changed his life. The retiree said a doctor at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada told him he contracted the disease during a procedure on July 25.
Photo by Ralph Fountain

Michael Washington doesn't know what the rest of his life holds for him. But the 67-year-old knows how he doesn't want his life to end.

"I don't want to die of cancer. I don't want to die of HIV," he said on Saturday in his home in Sun City Anthem. "I'd rather pass away of old age."

Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

Most Popular Stories
  • NORM: Phelps galpal gets exposure on Web
  • POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Freedom's Watch effort winding down
  • NORM: Robin Gibb in airport standoff
  • NORM: Britney-LV buzz hard to nail down
  • NORM: Wynn coveted cathedral's land
  • NORM: Web site shows life of Mazzeo
  • Las Vegas police use saturation strategy to cool 'hot spots' of crime
  • 2-year-old boy dies in dog attack
  • Fresh-faced trio wows throng of youthful fans at MGM Grand
  • DOUG ELFMAN: Cab, limo drivers take pulse of tourists



    • Washington is one of six people so far who have had their lives irreversibly changed after being diagnosed with hepatitis C, a deadly and debilitating disease.

    Authorities say medical procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada have placed 40,000 people at risk for hepatitis B, C and HIV, and countless others indirectly at risk. The city of Las Vegas revoked the clinic's business license on Friday.

    Southern Nevadans have overwhelmed labs, seeking blood tests. Results will be pouring in this week.

    For those who don't test positive, the ordeal will have been an inconvenience. For those who have been infected, Washington's experience shows it will be life-altering.

    "Maybe it's wrong on my part, but I feel like they've almost given me a death sentence," the 22-year Air Force veteran and retiree said.

    Washington acknowledges that he probably will never be a candidate to receive a new liver. Liver transplants are one of the few options for combating the disease.

    He has received no treatment for hepatitis C because his doctors say the treatment would only make him sicker.

    He's wondering what's next.

    "I told my wife, 'I hope that you don't panic and leave, and stay with me,'" Washington said as he looked at his wife of 29 years, Josephine, who is a registered nurse.

    "After all these years?" she said, laughing. "That's ludicrous."

    Washington said health district officials told him he was the first person to contract hepatitis C while undergoing a colonoscopy at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada.

    The July 25 procedure went well as far as he knew. He didn't notice any unusual practices. Records show Dr. Dipak Desai, along with a registered nurse and a nurse anesthetist, were in the room with Washington during the procedure.

    On his next visit to the center, a few weeks later, Washington said a doctor told him he had contracted hepatitis, and that he had been infected with the blood-borne illness during his July 25 visit. Washington said the doctor told him he didn't know how he could have been infected, because the clinic passed health inspections.

    Subsequent tests confirmed he had hepatitis C, which can cause chronic liver disease and lead to death.

    "I really started kind of panicking a bit," Washington said. "I thought, 'This has really put my life in danger here.'"

    His weight plummeted as symptoms surfaced. It was too painful to eat and he was weak.

    "We would go to the doctor on a Monday, and by Friday he would have lost another three pounds," Josephine Washington said.

    Washington now weighs 211 pounds, down from his normal weight of 256 pounds.

    "My body had to get used to being so weak," he said.

    He's reminded of the disease three times a day, when he injects himself with insulin and pricks his finger to monitor his blood sugar.

    He must be careful that his blood doesn't come in contact with his wife. He disposes of all needles and tissues he uses in an empty coffee can. He takes a full can to a special facility to have the contents destroyed.

    Washington used to be a "wonderful" cook, his wife said, but he can no longer risk being cut by a knife. So she cooks dinner now.

    Washington wasn't aware that other Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada patients had been infected with hepatitis C until a visit to the clinic just before Thanksgiving. He said during that visit a doctor told him five others had contracted the disease.

    It wasn't until health officials went public with their concerns about the clinic last week that he realized just how severe the situation is.

    "We're both upset about it," Washington said. "But right now I'm trying to cope with it on my own. And my wife is trying to help me through it. I'm leaning on her and she's leaning on me."

    Washington has hired a lawyer, Ed Bernstein, to seek compensation for medical bills and future costs the disease may bring. Bernstein was present at a Review-Journal interview with Washington on Saturday.

    The mental anguish -- wondering whether his life may be stopped short -- might prompt Washington to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

    "You work most of your life and then you retire," he said. "You go in for a routine medical procedure that's good -- it's a fine procedure. But here you have a clinic that's doing things they shouldn't be doing, and injuring people.

    "It's not fair, I don't think. They shouldn't get away with it. It's almost like they committed a crime."

    Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.



    Leave Your Comment 88 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    SP wrote on March 03, 2008 02:57 PM: Steve,

    I know Dr. D personally and would say that Insider's information about Dr. D's mentality with money is true. He donates a lot of money but also tries to conserve with small things. He is of a basic Indian business man's mentality (miserly). As much I know of him, I would say he is a good man with some minor weakness, like cost cutting and few more. One of these issues is making him pay for it. I am sure he is capable of paying for his mistakes, but not sure if he would, if he can escape.

    FYI, I only know him through some of his friends and am no way benefitted or influenced by him or his money nor did I ever work for him. He might know me, about who I am but nothing more than that. I am not the insider.

    I am expecting that he might have did this mistake to cut costs of the practise with out expecting that much effect. I am sure he wouldn't have done that if he expected today's situation. He might just thought of implementing old Indian medical standards here and got into soup.


    K wrote on March 03, 2008 06:34 AM: S Hall - maybe the one that wasn't infected was the first.

    Mary Lytell - Don't worry. Hep C isn't spread casually. Only by blood.

    Health Nut - Your posts indicate that you are very mentally disturbed. Probably the sickest one of us on this forum. Let your fingers do the walking thru the yellow pages in the psyciatric section.


    S.Hall wrote on March 02, 2008 11:24 PM: dj jones -- 5 of the 6 patients were effected on the same day. One was not. Nurses were aware of his cost cutting practices. Some left because they refused to do anything which could harm patients others stayed and kept their mouths shut. You call lawyers bloodsuckers but perhaps you can tell me how someone with little or now health insurance is going to be able to pay for the healthcare needed because of the crime this doctor and other members of his staff have committed.


    S Hall wrote on March 02, 2008 10:43 PM: My heart goes out to Mr. Washington and his wife for what they have suffered and continue to suffer because of Dr. Desai and his need to cut corners. 40,000 people are now at risk because of this doctor and yes it is a crime. My husband is also one of Dr. Desai's victims and we await an answer to his blood test. May God be with the Washingtons and the rest of the innocent people who went in for a simple procedure and whose lives are now forever altered because of it.


    MARY LYTELL wrote on March 02, 2008 10:32 PM: I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT 700 SHADOW LN SUITE430, 10/30/02 AT 8:30 AM......DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE TESTED.....I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY APPOINTMENT WAS FOR. MY DOCTOR WAS ALEXANDER SPARKUHL, M.D. F.A.C.S. IT WAS AT THE UROLOGY ASSOCIATES....PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO BE TESTED....THANK YOU MARY LYTELL


    tyrone wrote on March 02, 2008 10:02 PM: http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/context/medical-anatomy.htm?id=45648

    http://www.truckinjuries.com/

    check out deze dem here lincks. they finsta helps you alls get some money outsta diz here stuff goings ons up in day.


    honie wrote on March 02, 2008 09:57 PM: he was married for 29 years. you'd be ill too.

    god bless these people, what a crime this is against so many innocent people who were taking care of their health at the mercy of a money hungry greedy rot in hello monster.


    schilling wrote on March 02, 2008 09:54 PM: i looked at the picture someone posted of myersandgomel. the guys is very good looking. i'd definately considering hiring him over Ed Bernstein who specializes in auto accidents. Why would they hire Ed?

    strange.....must be for to get some money out of this mess.


    cora wrote on March 02, 2008 09:51 PM: these people should hire an attorney, get a bunch of money and then send this guy to the next state to make some more millions. i mean, as long as they get their money, why should they care if this guy is practicing in another state?

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    Call MyersandGomel like the posts say. sounds like they are on the right track for this case.


    kathey wrote on March 02, 2008 09:28 PM: MyersandGomel:

    You are on the right track. I think this will turn out to be a "get me some money out of this" type case instead of "bring this man to justice".

    Keep on keeping on MyersandGomel, there's much money to be had on this one. In today's day and age in our country, many are willing to put a price on life.....Dr. knows this and I'm sure forking over 3 mil to these people is a drop in the bucket. Remember.......it's all about the money.

    Call MyersandGomel today for your free money......let the criminal pay his way out of this one.

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$


    Read All Comments