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Over 70 S. Koreans infected with Hep C after hospital reused syringes

November 27, 2015
Dana Hyeondae Clinic, where 71 patients have been confirmed to have have been infected with hepatitis C after receiving intravenous injections. (Yonhap)

Dana Hyeondae Clinic, where 71 patients have been confirmed to have have been infected with hepatitis C after receiving intravenous injections. (Yonhap)

By Brian Han

Following the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) debacle caused by hospital safety negligence, another health-related issue made waves in South Korea recently.

A doctor at Dana Hyeongdae Clinic located in Seoul admitted to reusing syringes during blood donation drives according to the city’s Ministry of Health.

As a result, 71 people have reportedly contracted the hepatitis C virus as of Friday.

Tests will be conducted on more than 2,000 patients who may have also been affected by the procedure.

The doctor blamed his highly questionable methods to a brain injury dating back to 2012.

The 52-year-old stated that he experienced tremors, which had caused an uncontrollable shaking of his hands making it difficult to open the packaging of new syringes.

“The doctor is claiming that he had never reused old syringes prior to his injury in 2012, but we’ve heard from another source that this may not be true,” the Health Ministry wrote in a public statement. “We’ve heard that the doctor used disposable syringes on a number of patients even before 2012.”

Furthermore, authorities are investigating his wife who may have administered blood donations despite not having a medical license to do so.

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver, which causes inflammation and possibly scarring. When untreated, the condition can lead to cirrhosis.