Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1173622
15 INFECTION CONTROL & PATIENT SAFETY 3rd physician says he was punished for complaining about patient safety at New York hospital By Anne-Marie Kommers H erbert Kunkle Jr., MD, is now the third physician to file a lawsuit against Auburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital for allegedly punish- ing him for complaining about patient safety issues, according to syracuse.com. The June 28 lawsuit claims the hospital terminated Dr. Kunkle's contract last year shortly after he told CEO Scott Berlucchi that elderly patients were in danger due to delayed hip fracture surgeries. Mr. Berlucchi and John Riccio, MD, took no action and gave Dr. Kunkle the impression he was causing trouble, the suit says. The hospital said it would not comment on pending litigation but added that "we do want our patients and the community to know that we won't be distracted by these matters and are committed to providing the best healthcare to our patients." Another physician, Gregory Serfer, MD, alleged in a lawsuit last year that the hospital failed to act when Jeremy Barnett, MD, a former intensive care unit physician, provided dangerous patient care. Karen Odrzywolski, MD, filed a suit earlier this year claiming she was punished for blowing the whis- tle on Dr. Barnett, a claim the hospital denies. n Infection outbreak linked to physician's wife mishandling vaccines, Kentucky medical board says By Mackenzie Bean A Kentucky-based physician received five years of probation for allegedly allowing his unlicensed wife to improperly handle flu vaccines, which led to a three-state infection outbreak, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure ordered Paul McLaughlin, MD, to pay a $5,000 fine for delegating medical tasks to someone without a medical license and contributing to a public health crisis. Dr. McLaughlin's wife, Fairshinda Sabounchi McLaughlin, owns and op- erates Location Vaccination. The medical board alleges Ms. McLaughlin improperly handled and stored the vaccines, causing individuals in Ken- tucky, Ohio and Indiana to experience adverse reactions. Patients reported swelling, redness and hard lumps at injection sites. The medical board said Ms. McLaughlin then prescribed antibiotics and steroids to these patients without taking specific "medically appropriate" steps. Tracy Prewitt, Dr. McLaughlin's attorney, called the allegations "unproven" and said Dr. McLaughlin denies "all issues relating to quality of care," ac- cording to the Lexington Herald Leader. n Veteran's death ruled homicide at West Virginia VA hospital By Anne-Marie Kommers L awyers filed a notice of claim against Clarksburg, W.Va.-based Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, alleg- ing the hospital failed to protect a now deceased patient from "foreseeable harm" aer at least nine other patients died under similar circumstances, reported WBOY 12News. Retired Sgt. Felix Kirk McDermott died on April 8, 2018, from low blood sugar aer he was admitted to the medical center for pneumonia. He had no history of diabetes, and hospital documents indicate there were no physician orders for Mr. McDer- mott to receive insulin. The VA Office of the Inspector General launched an investigation into the deaths in July 2018. Inspectors notified Mr. Mc- Dermott's daughter in October 2018 that her father's death, and the deaths of up to 10 other patients, were likely caused by the wrongful injection of insulin. An au- topsy later revealed Mr. McDermott had insulin injected into his left abdomen, and his death was ruled a homicide by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Among other allegations, the notice of claim asserts the VA failed to adequately staff the hospital, train employees and notify Mr. McDermott and his family of the previous patient deaths. "Allegations of potential misconduct you may have heard about in media reports do not involve any current Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center employees," the hospital told Becker's in an email. "Immediately upon discovering these serious allegations, Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center leadership brought them to the attention of VA's inspector gener- al while putting safeguards in place to ensure the safety of each and every one of our patients." n