Three regulators withdraw from Nevada Hepatitis inquiry

In a recent development in the hepatitis C outbreak at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, three doctors who were the board members of Nevada have taken back their names from the inquiry team.

The names of the doctor’s are- Dr. Javaid Anwar, Sohail Anjum and Daniel McBride and they won't participate in the State Board of Medical Examiners' investigation.

Dr. Anwar is President of the medical board whereas Dr. Anjum is the Vice President.

This happened amidst doubts that their presence will increase chances of biased approach in the inquiry as these doctors had ties with the majority owner of the center, Deepak Desai.

Recently, the center had been reported for the six hepatitis C cases and an investigation had been started on the matter. It has already led to the closure of the Endoscopy Center and several of its affiliates. Desai has voluntarily agreed to stop practicing medicine.

The inspectors had found that the center regularly reused vials of medication and syringes and this could be the most probable cause of the infection.

The hepatitis scare triggered a massive health alert in southern Nevada and this had a direct impact on the blood donations which have dropped considerably. Officials say donations at the United Blood Services five fixed sites have dropped 25 percent since early March.

“Many potential donors have expressed concerns about the safety of giving blood. She says she assures people that blood banks never reuse needle and dispose of needles immediately after their use,” said Blood bank recruiter Amy Hutch.

Tony Clark, the executive director of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners said, “We are also recommending that the Governor Jim Gibbons to appoint physicians from Northern Nevada as replacements because the doctors involved are from Southern Nevada.''

The board is still in talks with other doctors affiliated with the center about whether they should continue practicing medicine. The board has subpoenaed the medical records of all six patients who contracted hepatitis C.

They have already been asked to refrain from performing surgical procedures in ambulatory surgery centers where they don't have control over protocols.