Vanderbilt endoscopy patients at risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis after reported issue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Nashville attorney is worried hundreds of people could be at risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis. It comes after an incident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). The hospital said they discovered an issue with how a solution was put through a scope during some endoscopy procedures.

When Johnny Mozingo got a colonoscopy back in July, he did not expect to get a call three months later from VUMC. He said he was told he could be at risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis.

“I went to get a routine colonoscopy and because of that I am going to be in turmoil mentally,” said Mozingo. “It’s sleepless nights, near panic attacks at times and I have to through this a whole year?”

For the next 12 months, Mozingo must get his blood drawn to see if he tests positive for HIV or hepatitis.

VUMC said they corrected the issue and reported it to the state health department. They also said less than 4% of patients were affected in the last six months, but Daniel Clayton, a personal injury attorney, said there’s no telling how many that could be.

“We don’t know if it’s hundreds or even more,” he said.

Clayton is now representing at least 20 patients who got a similar call to Mozingo. He said some had a scheduled procedure while others had emergencies. Some patients tell him VUMC notified them there was a cross-contamination of a solution, while others said VUMC failed to properly sterilize equipment.

“The issue is how long they will go throughout their lives living in fear,” said Clayton.

He said no one has tested positive for HIV or hepatitis that he knows of but adds there is also a lack of information from VUMC.

“I think we need to hear more,” said Clayton. “I know if it were me, I would want to hear more from the wrongdoer other than “we’ve corrected this”.”

“Vanderbilt has given us no direction to go, no sorry phone calls, no concern whatsoever,” said Mozingo.

He is worried other patients in the community are not aware. He also hopes he did not contract the viruses and spread them to his own family.

“As a husband and father, I have to stay strong, I have to,” said Mozingo. “But when you have to go out and back and fall apart about it so nobody can see, that’s what men have to do.”

VUMC said they are in the process of contacting endoscopy patients who may have been affected.

Full statement from VUMC:

We recently discovered an issue in how a solution was administered through the scope during a limited number of endoscopy procedures at the Vanderbilt Clinic. We immediately corrected the issue and reported it to the Tennessee Department of Health. We are in the process of notifying patients who had an endoscopy procedure and may have been affected.

We have determined this issue was limited in scope and the risk to patients is very low. We are focused on notifying those who may have been affected. It is less than 4% of endoscopy patients over the last six months.

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