Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Swedish Medical Center After Surgical Tech Fired
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- A class action lawsuit has been filed against Swedish Medical Center after thousands of patients were put at risk for bloodborne pathogens.
The hospital suggested nearly 3,000 former patients get tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C after former surgical technician Rocky Allen was fired.
Allen, 28, is accused of switching needles to get the painkiller fentanyl from the operating room. He has been criminally charged in federal court.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is not providing results of tests on patients until after its investigation is complete. It reminds that people may have had blood borne pathogens before their surgery at Swedish.
Each of the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit initially tested negative for any diseases but say the ordeal has caused them emotional distress and anxiety. They claim the hospital should have never hired Allen because he had been fired from other hospitals for similar behavior.
Swedish Medical Center released this statement in regards to the lawsuit: "Our staff reacted swiftly and appropriately to report this incident to multiple authorities and to notify patients as no one had previously, even knowing it would result in intense publicity and lawsuits from plaintiff's attorneys seeking to take advantage of this unfortunate situation for their own monetary gain. We will defend ourselves vigorously."