jcapeverde
11-14-2007, 07:42 PM
And they don't even want to take his license away! If that ain't the Ol Boys network covering for his azz, I don't know what is. He should be injected by an old needle for punishment! :wtf:
http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2007-11/33785289.jpg
Crazy Azz Doctor who didn't know better than to reuse needles!
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lihepa1115,0,5760065.story (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lihepa1115,0,5760065.story)
BY MICHAEL AMON | michael.amon@newsday.com
5:02 PM EST, November 14, 2007
The physician whose reuse of syringes caused the infection of two patients with hepatitis C has been identified as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein of Dix Hills, according to Nassau officials and an internal investigation by the state Department of Health.
Finkelstein, 52, an anesthesiologist since 1981, practices at Pain Care of Long Island, a pain management clinic in Plainview, according to his Web site. He has admitting privileges at the New Island Hospital in Bethpage, North Shore University Hospital in Plainview and Long Island Surgicenter in Melville, according to the Web site.
State health investigators indentified an initial group of patients administered injections by Finkelstein in May 2005. Those people were sent letters then and advised to be tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. The health department expanded its probe to include all patients injected by Finkelstein between Jan. 1, 2000 and Jan. 15, 2005. That larger group were sent letters this week advising they be tested, the state health department said tonight.
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi Nassau Wednesday said the time lag occurred because the state had to negotiate with the Finkelstein's attorney to secure relesase of the names.
Said Suozzi: "The idea that the doctor would lawyer up and protect himself and not put out this information immediately ... is completetly unacceptable."
A staff member at Finkelstein's office in Plainview said the office would not comment, but that it would issue a statement later Wednesday afternoon.
A Suffolk man, whose wife received a letter telling her she may have been exposed to infection, said he was very angry.
"This is a terrible thing," he said. "I don't know why they are protecting the doctor or clinic. What are we doing here? These are not ingrown toenails we are talking about. This is ridiculous. We should identify the doctor so that fears can be put to rest."
A statement released by the state health department, and attributed to state Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said, in a part: "Only those patients who received a letter need to be tested. If patients did NOT receive a letter, they are NOT at risk."
About 630 of Finkelstein's patients received letters from the state Department of Health this week saying they are at risk for hepatitis B and C and HIV because Finkelstein reused syringes. The letter urges patients who received pain relief injections from Finkelstein between January 1, 2000 and Jan. 15, 2005, to get tested.
Nassau health officials began investigating Finkelstein in late 2004 after one of his patients was diagnosed with hepatitis C, a potentially fatal liver disease. Another hepatitis patient soon surfaced and the state health department linked both cases to Finkelstein's clinic, officials said.
Nassau Health Commissioner Dr. Abby Greenberg said state health officials knew about the linked cases for about a year and a half but did not notify Finkelstein's other patients until this week. A state health department spokeswoman said notification could not be made until a complete investigation was done.
Office of Professional Medical Conduct, the state's disciplinary board for doctors, closed a case against Finkelstein in September without finding any violations. He has changed his injection practices, health officials said, and has agreed to be monitored until 2010.
State and local health officials said they could not officially name Finkelstein as the doctor for legal reasons because he was cleared by the disciplinary board.
A statement released by the state health department, and attributed to state Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said, in aprt: "While chance of transmission is low, it is important that every patient be made aware of facts that might affect their health so that they can act appropriately. Only those patients who received a letter need to be tested. If patients did NOT receive a letter, they are NOT at risk."
Ridgely Ochs contributed to this report.
http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2007-11/33785289.jpg
Crazy Azz Doctor who didn't know better than to reuse needles!
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lihepa1115,0,5760065.story (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lihepa1115,0,5760065.story)
BY MICHAEL AMON | michael.amon@newsday.com
5:02 PM EST, November 14, 2007
The physician whose reuse of syringes caused the infection of two patients with hepatitis C has been identified as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein of Dix Hills, according to Nassau officials and an internal investigation by the state Department of Health.
Finkelstein, 52, an anesthesiologist since 1981, practices at Pain Care of Long Island, a pain management clinic in Plainview, according to his Web site. He has admitting privileges at the New Island Hospital in Bethpage, North Shore University Hospital in Plainview and Long Island Surgicenter in Melville, according to the Web site.
State health investigators indentified an initial group of patients administered injections by Finkelstein in May 2005. Those people were sent letters then and advised to be tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. The health department expanded its probe to include all patients injected by Finkelstein between Jan. 1, 2000 and Jan. 15, 2005. That larger group were sent letters this week advising they be tested, the state health department said tonight.
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi Nassau Wednesday said the time lag occurred because the state had to negotiate with the Finkelstein's attorney to secure relesase of the names.
Said Suozzi: "The idea that the doctor would lawyer up and protect himself and not put out this information immediately ... is completetly unacceptable."
A staff member at Finkelstein's office in Plainview said the office would not comment, but that it would issue a statement later Wednesday afternoon.
A Suffolk man, whose wife received a letter telling her she may have been exposed to infection, said he was very angry.
"This is a terrible thing," he said. "I don't know why they are protecting the doctor or clinic. What are we doing here? These are not ingrown toenails we are talking about. This is ridiculous. We should identify the doctor so that fears can be put to rest."
A statement released by the state health department, and attributed to state Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said, in a part: "Only those patients who received a letter need to be tested. If patients did NOT receive a letter, they are NOT at risk."
About 630 of Finkelstein's patients received letters from the state Department of Health this week saying they are at risk for hepatitis B and C and HIV because Finkelstein reused syringes. The letter urges patients who received pain relief injections from Finkelstein between January 1, 2000 and Jan. 15, 2005, to get tested.
Nassau health officials began investigating Finkelstein in late 2004 after one of his patients was diagnosed with hepatitis C, a potentially fatal liver disease. Another hepatitis patient soon surfaced and the state health department linked both cases to Finkelstein's clinic, officials said.
Nassau Health Commissioner Dr. Abby Greenberg said state health officials knew about the linked cases for about a year and a half but did not notify Finkelstein's other patients until this week. A state health department spokeswoman said notification could not be made until a complete investigation was done.
Office of Professional Medical Conduct, the state's disciplinary board for doctors, closed a case against Finkelstein in September without finding any violations. He has changed his injection practices, health officials said, and has agreed to be monitored until 2010.
State and local health officials said they could not officially name Finkelstein as the doctor for legal reasons because he was cleared by the disciplinary board.
A statement released by the state health department, and attributed to state Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said, in aprt: "While chance of transmission is low, it is important that every patient be made aware of facts that might affect their health so that they can act appropriately. Only those patients who received a letter need to be tested. If patients did NOT receive a letter, they are NOT at risk."
Ridgely Ochs contributed to this report.