Class action lawsuits like this help to make the case for single-use sterile instruments.
At least one death, “hundreds of severe infections” linked to Porter hospital’s use of contaminated surgical instruments, lawsuit alleges
PorterCare Adventist Health System, Centura Health Corp. and Porter Adventist Hospital have agreed to a $6.5 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims they failed to adequately sterilize surgical instruments.
The settlement benefits all patients who underwent orthopedic or spinal surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Colorado, between July 21, 2016, and April 5, 2018, and either received a written notice from Porter dated April 4, 2018, or April 6, 2018, or who learned of the sterilization problems at Porter and subsequently underwent blood testing for bloodborne pathogens for which the results were negative.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued the companies failed to adequately sterilize surgical instruments, failed to inform the public and medical professionals of this sterilization problem and then unjustly profited from the surgeries it provided while using inadequately sterilized instruments.
The defendants denied the allegations and settled before the cou...
