Oregon Anesthesiologist Suspended for Potential HIV and Hepatitis Exposure
Thousands of Patients at Risk in Portland-Area Hospitals
An Oregon anesthesiologist has been suspended after potentially exposing over 2,000 patients to HIV and Hepatitis at Portland-area hospitals. Patients at Providence Portland Willamette Falls Medical Center and Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center have been informed of the exposure risk, according to KGW8.
Scope of exposure
Legacy Health announced that it would send letters to 221 affected patients. The infection control breach stemmed from a third-party anesthesiologist contracted through the Oregon Anesthesiology Group, who provided care at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center from December 2023.
Providence reported notifying 2,200 patients at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two at its Portland Medical Center facility about the breach. The implicated doctor is no longer employed by the anesthesiology group, and Legacy’s switch to another provider delayed hundreds of surgeries.
Investigation and patient safety
Legacy Health stated, “Upon learning of this situation, we immediately suspended the provider and launched a comprehensive investigation in accordance with regulations and with our policies and procedures.”
Providence emphasized that the risk of exposure to hepatitis B, C, and HIV was low. They urged patients to get screened at no cost and assured that positive results would prompt immediate outreach and next steps.
The Oregon Anesthesiology Group asserted, “The safety of our patients is our top priority. When we learned that the physician had violated infection control practices, we suspended him, informed our partners Legacy Health and Providence and then began an investigation that resulted in the physician’s termination. Even though the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
The Oregon Health Authority reported no known illnesses related to the potential breach. The authority reassured the public about the high qualifications and skills of Oregon’s infection preventionists and laboratory staff dedicated to preventing healthcare-associated infections.
