A Colorado surgical tampering case involving an ex- medical technician has urged for testing of about 3,000 patients for their possible exposure to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The former technician at the Swedish Medical Center in suburban Denver was charged on one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by deceit.
As Fox News reported, the Colorado surgical tampering case was brought into court after the former medical technician, identified as Rocky Allen was found exchanging a syringe containing fentanyl citrate, a potent synthetic opiate, for a dose of an unnamed substance during a patient's operation the previous month. After the surgical tampering incident, Allen was immediately dismissed from the hospital. His firing led the police to investigate in the case. The prosecutors are now urging the examination of about 3,000 people who had surgery between Aug. 17 and Jan. 22 in the main operating room.
The charges allege Allen of tampering with a syringe containing pain medication and acquiring the medication by deception and subterfuge. The indictment also claims that Allen "with reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk," CNN reveals.
Allen was arrested on Tuesday. However, a Denver lawyer said on Tuesday that two people been diagnosed with hepatitis B, Denver Post reports. The Swedish Medical Center has denied the claims telling the two patients might have been tested positive long way before. The attorney revealed that the two patients don't have hepatitis B before their surgery in the hospital. The Colorado surgical tampering case is still under investigation.
If Allen would be proven guilty for one count of tampering with a consumer product, he could be imprisoned for up to 10 years and will be asked to pay a fine of $250,000. He could also face a jail term of four years with a $250,000 fine for one count of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit and subterfuge. Allen's license was suspended last month after he tested positive for fentanyl. The former surgery tech will be facing another court appearance on Friday over the Colorado surgical tampering case.
