Judge Removes Maryland General Hospital From Lawsuit

Judge Andre M. Davis of US District Court in Baltimore has dismissed Maryland General Hospital as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Kristin Turner. The former lab worker says she contracted HIV in a laboratory accident; her allegations led to state and federal investigations of the hospital's lab and billing practices.

Turner's lawsuit says she contracted HIV when she was splashed with blood while working on a Labotech analyzer manufactured by Adaltis USA Inc. Turner claims the machine was faulty. Her lawsuit was not dismissed entirely: Claims remain against Adaltis and the former lab administrator who Turner says bought the Labotech. In addition, a federal whistle-blower suit filed by a former anesthesiologist at the hospital claims the facility inappropriately billed the government for anesthesiology services.

Federal and state scrutiny of the hospital continues. On Wednesday, a congressional panel will hold the second of two hearings in response to the problems. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), who requested the hearings, toured Maryland General on Wednesday. Afterwards, he said the lab, which has been taken over by an outside firm, has made great strides since regulators first discovered it had notified hundreds of people of HIV and hepatitis test results despite indications those results might not be accurate. Cummings plans to go ahead with the hearing, however; he said the matter points up the need for nationwide improvements in a number of areas, including how labs are inspected and accredited.

Back to other news for July 2, 2004