Nevada Urologist Reused Needles During Biopsies
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A urologist in Nevada is defending his practice of reusing needles during biopsies – saying he did it based on instructions from a vendor.
In an advertisement in Wednesday’s Las Vegas Review-Journal, lawyers for Dr. Michael Kaplan said that he was told reusing the plastic guides was perfectly safe. The ad says Kaplan stopped reusing them the moment a question arose.
The Southern Nevada Health District said it doesn't know whether any diseases were transmitted, but it is notifying more than 100 patients who had a prostate biopsy from Dec. 20, 2010 to March 11 that they should get tested for HIV and hepatitis.
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The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners said Kaplan ordered staff to reuse the guides three to five times. His license was suspended Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.