Jacksonville, Florida Medical Negligence
A Mayo Clinic Jacksonville radiology technologist, Steven Beumel, has allegedly been stealing a powerful painkilling drug, Fentanyl, from patients for his own use. This individual worked at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville from approximately October 2004 through August 2010. It is unknown at the present time how many patients he allegedly stole Fentanyl (or other injectable narcotic pain medications) from or over what period of time.
While stealing pain relieving medications intended to reduce suffering of hospital patients is bad enough, this particular radiology technologist also was infected with a potentially deadly viral disease, Hepatitis C. This virus can cause severe liver damage over time which, in turn, can lead to the need for a liver transplant or even death.
From the evidence currently available, it appears that Beumel was injecting himself with the narcotic pain medications intended for patients and then refilling the patients’ syringes with saline solution. Beumel allegedly did not change the needle and, as a result, every patient who was injected with the saline solution was potentially exposed to small amounts of Beumel’s blood and the Hepatitis C virus it carried. Hepatitis C is spread by blood-to-blood contact.
Three patients, each of which had received an organ transplant, are known to have been infected with Hepatitis C as a result. However, Mayo Clinic has acknowledged that thousands of other patients have potentially been exposed.
If you believe that you are at risk, please contact the Jacksonville medical malpractice attorneys at Hardesty Tyde Green & Ashton, P.A. today to discuss your claim.
One of the problems with detecting Hepatitis C viral infections is that the infected individuals are often asymptomatic, showing no symptoms of the disease, sometimes for years. In many cases, the disease may only be recognized after significant liver damage has occurred. Blood testing is required to diagnose Hepatitis C and liver function tests are necessary to determine the amount of liver damage which has occurred in infected individuals.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is currently sending letters to thousands of patients who may have been in contact with this infected radiology technologist advising them of the need for further testing. If you or a relative receive one of these letters, it is important that you contact an experienced medical malpractice law firm to give you further advice on your legal rights and potential damage claims.
If you or a loved one contracted Hepatitis C while a patient at Mayo Clinic between October 2004 and August 2010, you should speak with an attorney soon because you may have a claim. There are certain actions you should take to protect your legal rights and your health. Our firm offers a free consultation on this issue to all former Mayo Clinic patients who believe they may have been infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Protect yourself and your loved ones by contacting our medical negligence lawyers today.
