SEATTLE, Wash. -- For Carina Sauerzopf, one piece of paper has led to
several sleepless nights. It is a letter from Northwest Hospital that
she says unlocks a mystery. She received notification more than a week
ago that the hospital is encouraging her to get tested for Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C, and HIV because of possible exposure, even though the risk
is low.
Sauerzopf already knows there's Hepatitis B in her blood, but for years she did not know how it got there.
"Even though it is hard, we still have to stand up and say this is what happened to me, and I can honestly say I didn't get it from screwing around. I got it because somebody did a malicious act," said Sauerzopf. While the source has not been proven, she is convinced she got it from the hospital.
She says her Hepatitis B is inactive now. It was originally detected during a routine check up. That appointment happened some time after she underwent surgery at Northwest Hospital in January 2012. Back then Rocky Allen worked there.
Federal prosecutors are now focused on Allen,accusing the the 28-year-old of stealing fentanyl, a powerful drug, and swapping syringes while working at a hospital Colorado. As a result, his employment history is under the microscope. Allen hopped around, working at several medical facilities, including three in Washington state.
"You don't expect to get sick from a hospital you go to to get well," said Melinda Booker.
Booker says she received the letter from Northwest Hospital too. Now she's talking to lawyer Jim Avery.
Avery filed a case in Colorado, claiming the hospital there did not do an adequate background check or have sufficient safeguards in place to protect patients.
"I just know that I am thrown into the middle of this, and I now have to be tested for something that I never even imagined I would have to be tested for," said Booker.
Court documents suggest Allen was a longtime drug addict. A spokesperson for Northwest Hospital says that information was not revealed when they did their background and reference checks.
Sauerzopf already knows there's Hepatitis B in her blood, but for years she did not know how it got there.
"Even though it is hard, we still have to stand up and say this is what happened to me, and I can honestly say I didn't get it from screwing around. I got it because somebody did a malicious act," said Sauerzopf. While the source has not been proven, she is convinced she got it from the hospital.
She says her Hepatitis B is inactive now. It was originally detected during a routine check up. That appointment happened some time after she underwent surgery at Northwest Hospital in January 2012. Back then Rocky Allen worked there.
Federal prosecutors are now focused on Allen,accusing the the 28-year-old of stealing fentanyl, a powerful drug, and swapping syringes while working at a hospital Colorado. As a result, his employment history is under the microscope. Allen hopped around, working at several medical facilities, including three in Washington state.
"You don't expect to get sick from a hospital you go to to get well," said Melinda Booker.
Booker says she received the letter from Northwest Hospital too. Now she's talking to lawyer Jim Avery.
Avery filed a case in Colorado, claiming the hospital there did not do an adequate background check or have sufficient safeguards in place to protect patients.
"I just know that I am thrown into the middle of this, and I now have to be tested for something that I never even imagined I would have to be tested for," said Booker.
Court documents suggest Allen was a longtime drug addict. A spokesperson for Northwest Hospital says that information was not revealed when they did their background and reference checks.
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