Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10, 2008
Navtej Singh
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said
that an outbreak of hepatitis C at a Nevada clinic may represent
"the tip of an iceberg" of safety problems at clinics
around the country. Nearly 40,000 residents in Southern Nevada
may have been exposed to several viruses through practices at
a local clinic- Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. Dr. Dipak
Desai is 65 percent owner of the center, according to Las Vegas
city business license records.
Investigators believe they became infected when workers used
contaminated syringes and vials when injecting patients with medication.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shut down the
clinic but later on some clinics allowed to reopen on an administrative
or limited basis. Dr. Dipak Desai agreed to stop doing medical
work while an investigation is conducted.
On Monday, Dr. Dipak Desai releases Statement about Hepatitis
C Investigation:
"As a longtime resident of Southern Nevada, I share our
community's sorrow and concern for those who have been affected
by this situation. I understand that many have questions about
the allegations which have been levied against me and the Endoscopy
Center of Southern Nevada. While I wish I were allowed to answer
those questions, I am unfortunately unable to do so at this time
on the advice of legal counsel. These unfounded allegations will
be addressed in a court of law, when facts have been presented
and substantiated. I look forward to that day, when I will be
afforded the right to due process to which we are all entitled
as Americans," wrote Dr. Desai.
Dr. Dipak Desai, purchased space for an open letter in the Las
Vegas Review-Journal on Sunday in which he expressed "my
deepest sympathy to all our patients and their families for the
fear and uncertainty that naturally arises from this situation."
Desai offered no apology but said a foundation was being set
up to cover testing costs. He also defended practices at his clinic,
which performs colonoscopies.
"The evidence does not support that syringes or needles
were ever reused from patient to patient at the center,"
Desai wrote.
About Dr. Dipak Desai:
Dr. Dipak Desai started Endoscopy Center in 1980 and built a
small medical empire in the desert of Southern Nevada.
Dr. Dipak Desai completed his medical residency at Catholic Medical
Center in New York. He hails from Gujarat and graduated from medical
school at Gujarat University in India
In 2004, he and his wife bought house for $3.4 million, four-bedroom,
about 9000-square-foot house in Red Rock Country Club.
In a 1992 Review-Journal story, he said, "I wasn't born
rich, and sometimes you have to give something back to the society
in which you live." He provided free treatment to striking
Frontier Hotel workers
According to local media, he is generous political campaign donor
and as a registered Republican has given nearly $25,000 to federal
candidates and committees going back to 1997. As a good businessman,
he has given to Democrats and Republicans alike, even opponents
in the same race.
His center gave $25,000 in to the Keep Our Doctors In Nevada
tort-reform ballot initiative in 2004 and also donated funds to
several candidates including Gov. Jim Gibbons and failed Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibson in 2006
In these years, he was becoming popular and and attend most of
the political events
