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Picture taken by my friend Cyndi Leos....thank you Cyndi.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Paybacks are a B**%@!....

September, 2007 I had a colonoscopy.  In February, 2008, the  local news channels reported over forty thousand (40,000) patients, including myself, had been exposed to Hepatitis B, C and HIV.

Anyone having procedures at The Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada on Shadow Lane and its sister clinic, Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center on Burnham in Las Vegas, Nevada, between March, 2004 and January, 2008, could be at risk of infection.   Dr. Depak Desai (pictured below) owning several endoscopy centers, instructed his anesthesia nurses to reuse the syringes and vials of anesthesia used to administer the anesthesia, Propofol. CAN YOU IMAGINE???


This man was a Physician who took the Hippocratic Oath!!

It was reported in the paper this guy was so greedy, he threatened his staff if they did not comply with his tightwad techniques to save every penny.  A normal colonoscopy takes 20-30 minutes.  HE WOULD DO THEM IN TEN MINUTES!!! And then brag about it!!!

For one year of my life, I lived with the unknown, while being tested for those diseases.  I could not even share food with my grand sons or allow them to drink from my cup.  I was absolutely paranoid around my loved ones and friends. I felt terrified. My children and husband were scared to death. My elderly parents were horrified. It goes without saying the mental/emotional anguish my family and I went through during that time.  Thank God I was given the "all clear"at the end of all my testing. I feel so very lucky and Blessed to have escaped infection, when so many did not...

Google this guy and you will not believe your eyes when you read about him.  Even a layman, who never worked within a hospital setting, WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK of re-using syringes and vials of anesthesia.  Supposedly, the needles were changed, but one syringe, contaminated by a needle from an infected patient, re-used to withdraw anesthesia from a re-used vial, is a double whammy for infection to a healthy patient.  IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNTHINKABLE and CRIMINAL!

Today, FINALLY, two years later, with delays, pleas for his "poor health" and strokes brought on by "stress", Depak Desai, his two employees (nurse anesthetists) Ronald Lakerman and Keith Mathahs, were indicted by the Grand Jury on 28 counts of racketeering, performance of an act in reckless disregard of persons or property, criminal neglect of patients, insurance fraud, theft, and obtaining money under false pretenses.  Many of the charges are felonies.  This guy is going away for the rest of his life! (I HOPE!!)

He surrendered today, turning himself in.  He is under house arrest until he posts a one million bail. I hope he can't make bail.  I hope he has to stay at the Detention Center instead of his four million dollar mansion in the Red Rock Country Club Estates. Tell me this guy's Karma did not come back to eat him alive! Paybacks are a B**%@!

I was so ecstatic when I heard it on the news, I stood and cheered!

13 comments:

Sultan said...

How horrible. That is an odious doctor.

Donna B. said...

Laoch: You could not have described him better in one word! Always good to read your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by. :)

Marylinn Kelly said...

Terrifying story, and not a terribly isolated case I would guess. For those years of fear and worry, not to mention patients who did contract the illness...there should be not only the criminal charges but restitution. Odious says it.

betty said...

what he did was deplorable! I'm so glad you were okay (except for the mental anguish you and your family went through for a year). Makes me sad he would have such contempt for medicine to do something like this and it also makes me sad that none of his employees were willing to come forward and report him sooner than this, just deplorable all around

betty

DrSoosie said...

I think what he did was so disgusting, immoral and horrible I am astounded and scared all at the same time. I am dentist and I err on being too sterile. I would never ever treat any of my patients any other way than I would expect to be treated. I am horrified but not surprised. trying to save a few dollars and praying to to the alter of the mighty buck, this pig of a man deserves everything he got and so much more!!!

Donna B. said...

betty: I totally agree. Can you believe his employees allowed themselves to be intimidated into doing something so dispicable?? I worked for a Dentist and saw him drop a drilling roach, while doing a root canal, on the floor. He picked it up and put it back in the patient's tooth! I quit that day and told him why.

Marylinn: Oh believe me, there is! The first person who contracted the disease directly from his negligence, was awarded $ 5 mil compensatory damages and punative damages to the distributor and manufacturer of the large vials of anesthesia, to the tune of $356 mil and $144 mil. The total, $500 mil is the largest amount for punitive damages in the state of Nevada.

Anonymous said...

No amount of money gives a person their life back though if something goes wrong.
I note that two nurses were charged as well. That they were complicit and didn't report this "Doctor" makes them as bad as him.

Penny

gayle said...

How horrible for you and the others!! He should be put away for life!!!

Donna B. said...

Penny: You are so right on both your observations. I cannot imagine how horrifying it has been for the man with the settlement. His marriage and life have been stolen from him and no doubt much of the funds will be spent to treat his disease.

Gayle: I hope he does not make bail...I hope they keep him locked up from now on.

Teresa said...

that is just too horrible! my dad contracted hepatitis from a bad transfusion so i know how emotionally draining even the thought of it can be. i'm so glad that he's going to go to prison. how in the world did he make his employees go along with his plans for so long?

Donna B. said...

Teresa: How horrible for your Dad and your family! That describes it perfectly: Emotionally draining. The newspapers reported he threateded them with their jobs and he was also very intimidating. What a monster he is.

Lisa Jacques Elam said...

This is so scary. Unfortunately....it is not all that surprising. Having to have dealt with the medical community over and over again because of my son....I have to watch out for this sort of thing like a hawk. Thank God all is well with you.

Angela Finney said...

This is so shocking. I am glad your tests come back negative for any of these diseases. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I hope they put him away for the rest of his life!