Doctor infects 12 Vic women with Hep C

Twelve women who underwent procedures at a Melbourne abortion clinic may have been
deliberately infected with hepatitis C by their doctor, Victoria's health chief
fears.
And it will take weeks for the health department to contact an undisclosed number of
additional women who were treated by the same doctor at the Croydon Day Surgery
between June 2008 to December 2009, a health department spokesman told AAP.
The doctor could face criminal charges as police are investigating the matter and
expect to receive a dossier of evidence from authorities within days.
The anaesthetist was suspended on February 15, two weeks after the Medical Board of
Victoria was notified and two months after the health department became aware that
three women who had contracted hepatitis C had been to the clinic.
Chief health officer John Carnie said further investigations revealed 12 women who
had procedures performed by the same doctor at the clinic contracted the disease.
"I find it difficult to imagine how an accidental transmission could affect 12
patients," Dr Carnie told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.
"My main concern at this stage is that I am still unable to explain or to determine
the method of transmission of the hepatitis C virus from this doctor to these
patients."
The clinic issued a statement saying the doctor, who conducted contract work there,
had not worked at the clinic since December.
"Croydon Day Surgery meets all the government standards for testing of healthcare
workers and had no awareness of the contractor's hepatitis C status or the
transmission prior to the Department of Health advising the surgery," the statement
reads.
State Health Minister Daniel Andrews said there was a risk the infection was more
widespread than the 12 identified women.
"There are other patients that could be at risk," he told reporters.
There is a clear epidemiological link between nine of the patients' viruses and the
doctor.
In one other patient the level of the virus was too low for a link to be made and
two of the women have naturally cleared the virus from their blood system.
Dr Carnie said infection control processes at the clinic did not indicate any
obvious method of transmission.
He said he had no reason to suspect any clustering of hepatitis C at two other
clinics in which the doctor had practised.
After becoming aware of the three cases at Croydon, staff were tested and the doctor
was tested upon his return from overseas in early January and the medical board was
notified.
The doctor's suspension means he cannot practise anywhere in Australia.
By law, doctors with hepatitis C are free to practise in Victoria provided they
follow infection-control guidelines.
Guidelines stipulate they cannot be involved in surgery performed in internal
cavities of the body or procedures that might increase the risk of needlestick
injury.
"Normal anesthesia that follows infection control guidelines carries an extremely
low or non-existent risk of transmission of hepatitis C," medical board president
Robert Adler said.
He said the doctor in question had no conditions attached to his registration when
he was suspended.
Anyone wishing to contact the health department about the issue can call 1300 365
677 between 8am and 10pm.



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