Salem Hospital Warns 450 Patients of Potential Hepatitis, HIV Exposure

Hospital states infection risk is extremely small; class-action lawsuit filed in response to the incident

Salem Hospital in Massachusetts has warned about 450 patients of potential exposure to hepatitis and HIV due to improper administration of intravenous medications during endoscopies over a two-year period.
The hospital has stated that the risk of infection is extremely small and there is no evidence so far of any patients being infected.
All potentially exposed patients have been notified, and the hospital is providing free screenings and has set up a clinician-staffed hotline to answer questions.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the hospital and its parent company, Mass General Brigham, on behalf of a woman who suffered anxiety and emotional distress due to potential exposure.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been made aware of the potential exposures and also concluded the risk of possible infection to be very low.