Anesthesiologist allegedly gives hepatitis

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A New York anesthesiologist has been suspended and is accused in lawsuits of infecting patients with hepatitis B and C.

City Health Department officials found that Dr. Brian Goldweber sloppily used the same syringe to give patients dosages from anesthesia vials already infected with hepatitis. This "double dipping" allegedly contaminated the contents and helped spread the virus to at least 14 patients, the New York Post reported Sunday.

"This was a very serious outbreak -- and it was preventable," said Dr. Sharon Balter, a city medical epidemiologist.

Goldweber was identified only as "Anesthesiologist #1" in a report obtained by the Post. He was suspended by the New York state Health Department in May pending a probe by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct and is being sued by a dozen sickened patients in Manhattan and Brooklyn.