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discocrisco01

(1,666 posts) Mon Dec 2, 2013, 06:45 PM Dec 2013

U.S. hospital worker sentenced to 39 years for spreading hepatitis

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A former New Hampshire hospital technician who caused dozens of people to become infected with hepatitis after injecting himself with stolen pain killers was sentenced to 39 years in prison on Monday.

David Kwiatkowski, 34, admitted in August to leaving dirty syringes for hospital use for years despite knowing he was infected with hepatitis C. He pleaded guilty to obtaining controlled substances by fraud and tampering with a consumer product.

He was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante in Concord, New Hampshire.

"The whole reason I got into healthcare was to help people, and my addiction took that away," Kwiatkowski told the court before being sentenced. "I cannot begin to tell you how much it hurts me ... I don't blame the families for hating me. I hate myself."

Kwiatkowski worked as a traveling medical technician in at least eight states for nearly a decade before he was arrested last year while working at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/02/usa-crime-hepatitis-idINL2N0JH1CB20131202

5 replies

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U.S. hospital worker sentenced to 39 years for spreading hepatitis (Original Post) discocrisco01 Dec 2013 OP

I hope they can cure, or at least help, the people he infected sakabatou Dec 2013 #1

Only if they have health insurance. nt valerief Dec 2013 #3

Oh man, it is Hep C. No longer a cancer/death sentence for sure, but still, a lot of problems uppityperson Dec 2013 #4

He should never see the light of day again. n/t TheCowsCameHome Dec 2013 #2

Hep C is terrible and devastating causes ascities becasue of destruction of ones liver.... GreenTea Dec 2013 #5

sakabatou

(42,152 posts)

1. I hope they can cure, or at least help, the people he infected

Reply to discocrisco01 (Original post)

Mon Dec 2, 2013, 07:04 PM

Dec 2013

valerief

(53,235 posts)

3. Only if they have health insurance. nt

Reply to sakabatou (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 2, 2013, 07:29 PM

Dec 2013

uppityperson

(115,677 posts)

4. Oh man, it is Hep C. No longer a cancer/death sentence for sure, but still, a lot of problems

Reply to sakabatou (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 3, 2013, 12:07 AM

Dec 2013

associated with it, not to mention the being set up for liver cancer and/or liver failure and/or need for liver transplant.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-c/DS00097/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepc-guide/hepatitis-c-and-liver-cancer

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is also associated with the development of liver cancer. In fact, in Japan, hepatitis C virus is present in up to 75% of people who have liver cancer. As with hepatitis B virus, the majority of hepatitis C virus patients with liver cancer have associated cirrhosis (liver scarring). In several studies of the natural history of hepatitis C, the average time to develop liver cancer after exposure to hepatitis C virus was about 28 years. The liver cancer occurred about 8 to 10 years after the development of cirrhosis in these patients with hepatitis C. Up to 2.5% of people with chronic hepatitis C infection will go on to get liver cancer.
(more)

TheCowsCameHome

(40,168 posts)

2. He should never see the light of day again. n/t

Reply to discocrisco01 (Original post)

Mon Dec 2, 2013, 07:16 PM

Dec 2013

GreenTea

(5,154 posts)

5. Hep C is terrible and devastating causes ascities becasue of destruction of ones liver....

Reply to discocrisco01 (Original post)

Tue Dec 3, 2013, 03:34 AM

Dec 2013

However, there are 5 new corporations who have cures for Hep C ready to be marketed for the millions of people (170 million worldwide) consumers with Hep C as early as early January 2014 pills that eliminates hep C in from 8 to fourteen weeks. One pharmaceutical corporation boast success rate of as high as 97% the other 4 corporations are in the 90$ as well and NO INTERFERON!

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