Wanted: Multiuse Vial Rule in New York

US Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to take up the safety issues surrounding multidose medicine vials. His request follows the recent case of Dr. Harvey Finkelstein of Dix Hills, who placed more than 10,000 patients at risk for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV by reusing syringes in multidose vials. At least one transmission of hepatitis C resulted.

And in January, the state found a Manhasset doctor, E. Jacob Simhaee, also had reused syringes in a multidose vial when giving 36 patients flu shots; no disease transmission has been reported in that case.

"While you're never going to have a situation where there is no risk, it does seem like we’re asking for trouble with these multiuse vials," said Weiner. "The FDA needs to move more quickly with emergency hearings to see if there are immediate steps that can be taken to improve safety."

According to the state and New York City health departments, the improper use of multidose vials in a variety of medical procedures was blamed for 75 hepatitis B or C transmissions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens from 2001 to 2006.

Back to other news for February 2008