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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A Bloomington doctor is accused of dirty practices that might have put his patients at risk.
Authorities have accused Dr. Kamal Tiwari, an anesthesiologist, of using the same syringe on dozens, possibly hundreds of patients. Of 250 of Tiwari's patients who have been tested, two have tested positive for hepatitis C, WRTV-TV in Indianapolis reported.
Tiwari is still practicing medicine, but he has been fired from his job at the Bloomington Surgery Center.
Pat Christison, one of the more than 1,800 of Tiwari's patients, is concerned about the possibility of being infected with hepatitis or HIV.
"I just pray that I don't have (hepatitis)," Christison said. "It's a rare blood disease and will be devastating ... to cure if I have it."
Needles were changed between patients, but the syringe was not, according to the Indiana State Board of Health. One drop of tainted blood on a syringe could transfer diseases, the television station reported.
"They hear words like hepatitis and HIV, and it worries patients, and I understand that," said Dave Burnworth, clinical director of Internal Medicine Associates.
IMA and the Bloomington Surgery Center share patients, but they are not associated with each other.
"We are providing testing for patients who have been notified that they have had a possible exposure at the Bloomington Surgery Center," Burnworth said.
It used to be common to reuse syringes, but the practice was banned with the emergence of blood diseases such as HIV.
"The anesthesiologist who performed the outdated syringe technique is no longer at the Bloomington Surgery Center," said Lauren Kinzler, a spokeswoman for Bloomington Surgery Center.
Tiwari is also involved in a malpractice suit, which accuses him of giving a patient the wrong anesthetic.
Nice to know the best care is being given.
Authorities have accused Dr. Kamal Tiwari, an anesthesiologist, of using the same syringe on dozens, possibly hundreds of patients. Of 250 of Tiwari's patients who have been tested, two have tested positive for hepatitis C, WRTV-TV in Indianapolis reported.
Tiwari is still practicing medicine, but he has been fired from his job at the Bloomington Surgery Center.
Pat Christison, one of the more than 1,800 of Tiwari's patients, is concerned about the possibility of being infected with hepatitis or HIV.
"I just pray that I don't have (hepatitis)," Christison said. "It's a rare blood disease and will be devastating ... to cure if I have it."
Needles were changed between patients, but the syringe was not, according to the Indiana State Board of Health. One drop of tainted blood on a syringe could transfer diseases, the television station reported.
"They hear words like hepatitis and HIV, and it worries patients, and I understand that," said Dave Burnworth, clinical director of Internal Medicine Associates.
IMA and the Bloomington Surgery Center share patients, but they are not associated with each other.
"We are providing testing for patients who have been notified that they have had a possible exposure at the Bloomington Surgery Center," Burnworth said.
It used to be common to reuse syringes, but the practice was banned with the emergence of blood diseases such as HIV.
"The anesthesiologist who performed the outdated syringe technique is no longer at the Bloomington Surgery Center," said Lauren Kinzler, a spokeswoman for Bloomington Surgery Center.
Tiwari is also involved in a malpractice suit, which accuses him of giving a patient the wrong anesthetic.
Nice to know the best care is being given.
