Michael Kaplan, MD, a urologist from Henderson, Nev., has had his medical license suspended after he was accused of reusing single-use endocavity needle guides during biopsy procedures, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal news report.
During biopsy procedures to test for prostate cancer, needles are directed through endocavity needle guides, which come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Reusing the single-use guides can put other patients at risk of acquiring HIV and hepatitis C, according to the news report.
State health officials are currently working to notify all affected patients. It is still unclear how many patients will have to be notified and how long the alleged reuse of the guides took place. State and federal health officials, including the FDA, would not disclose details of how the allegations surrounding Dr. Kaplan surfaced.
This is not the first time Dr. Kaplan has come under fire for the quality of his care. According to the news report, Dr. Kaplan has been the subject of at least nine medical malpractice cases dating back to 1995. The most recent case took place in 2007. The plaintiff in that case sued Dr. Kaplan for the death of her husband, who bled to death after a 2006 surgery to remove his prostate, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Dr. Michael Kaplan's license suspension.
Read other coverage about medical license suspensions:
- New Jersey Sports Medicine Physician Loses Medical License After Pleading Not Guilty to Healthcare Fraud Charges
- New Jersey Pharmacist Gets 3 Years in Prison for Filing False Claims, Defrauding Medicaid Program
During biopsy procedures to test for prostate cancer, needles are directed through endocavity needle guides, which come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Reusing the single-use guides can put other patients at risk of acquiring HIV and hepatitis C, according to the news report.
State health officials are currently working to notify all affected patients. It is still unclear how many patients will have to be notified and how long the alleged reuse of the guides took place. State and federal health officials, including the FDA, would not disclose details of how the allegations surrounding Dr. Kaplan surfaced.
This is not the first time Dr. Kaplan has come under fire for the quality of his care. According to the news report, Dr. Kaplan has been the subject of at least nine medical malpractice cases dating back to 1995. The most recent case took place in 2007. The plaintiff in that case sued Dr. Kaplan for the death of her husband, who bled to death after a 2006 surgery to remove his prostate, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Dr. Michael Kaplan's license suspension.
Read other coverage about medical license suspensions:
- New Jersey Sports Medicine Physician Loses Medical License After Pleading Not Guilty to Healthcare Fraud Charges
- New Jersey Pharmacist Gets 3 Years in Prison for Filing False Claims, Defrauding Medicaid Program
