Englewood (Colo.) and Swedish Medical Center administrators are investigating a former surgical technician who may have put almost 3,000 surgical patients at risk for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, according to Denver 7.
The former surgical technician, Rocky Allen, 28, allegedly took a labeled fentanyl syringe from the anesthesia work space and replaced the syringe with another syringe. Mr. Allen tested positive later for fentanyl and marijuana. Authorities are acting cautiously as Mr. Allen allegedly is an IV drug user, placing him at risk of infection. Police have not made an arrest.
So far, the authorities have not found any cases where a patient was infected. This case comes years after a 2009 case where Kristen Diane Parker, a surgical technician, infected at least 18 patients with hepatitis C at Denver-based Rose Medical Center. After injecting herself with a liquid painkiller and then refilling the syringes with water or saline solution for patients, she was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Mr. Allen is suspended from the hospital. Authorities report the investigation is ongoing.
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