Manhattan, NYC dialysis center closed due to unsanitary conditions

A Manhattan dialysis center was closed down after one patient contracted hepatitis C due to unsanitary conditions. The State Health Department inspectors found several samples of blood on chairs and machines.

In the past five years, more than 600 patients were treated at the center, and they have been urged to undergo hepatitis and H.I.V tests.

The State Health inspectors inspected the clinic, the Life Care Dialysis Center, located at 221 West 61st Street, and found that most of the employees failed to wash their hands properly. Further, disinfect equipments were not properly maintained and gloves were not changed while handling different patients. Several blood samples were found on the treatment chairs.

The Clinic was ordered to begin sending its patients to other clinics immediately. The Health Department also started testing patients for signs of infection. One patient was found to have been infected by hepatitis C, due to contaminated equipment. However, there was no evidence that other patients had been infected.

Dr. Walter Wasser, who is the in charge of the clinic and medical director, was fined $300,000 and was ordered to surrender his operating certificate.

News Update by : Manhattan, NYC Medical Malpractice Attorney