Police raid Nevada clinics

Authorities investigating a hepatitis outbreak have seized patient records from six southern Nevada medical offices.

A Las Vegas investigator said Monday's raids on the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and five other clinics associated with the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada were conducted to ensure that records and other paperwork weren't destroyed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Nurse anesthetists at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada allegedly reused syringes on patients carrying hepatitis C, spreading the infection to at least six patients. Officials have notified about 40,000 clinic patients they should be tested for hepatitis and other infectious diseases.

Staffers at the clinics said they were ordered to reuse supplies to save money, the newspaper said. The clinics are headed by Dr. Dipak Desai.

A report by the state's Bureau of Licensure and Certification said an anesthesiologist at the Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic was observed working on four patients using the same syringe, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International