German Doctor Might Have Infected 2,000 Patients With HIV Virus

German medical authorities have suspended a doctor for reusing unsterilized needles on her patients. They believe more than 2,000 patients may have been infected with HIV or the Hepatitis virus.

More than 2,000 patients underwent surgery from a 56-year-old ear, nose and throat doctor. Now they have to wait and see whether they are infected with the HIV or Hepatitis virus. The doctor is accused of using contaminated needles many times over on different patients. She may have re-used unsterilized needles and other equipment without cleaning them properly on different patients. Albert Reck is one of the patients and is waiting agonizingly for the HIV test results. He told Reuters:

About five or six years ago I started going to her practice after an acute hearing loss. Over time I was told she would carry out more treatments like injections of my own blood. I trusted her.

The doctor has betrayed that trust on Reck and thousands of others by using unsterilized needles. The medical authorities have suspended the doctor for now and she will be charged by the court officials next month. Axel Mueller, Ravensburg District Court spokesman told Reuters:

According to the charge the syringes were inadequately cleaned. For example, some were cleaned only with washing-up liquid and similar products. Sometimes they weren't cleaned at all.