McGrath Law  Firm has begun an investigation and plans to launch legal action against Hays Hospital in regard to the hepatitis outbreak.  The firm currently represents two local people who have tested positive and a third  person who is waiting for results.Described as a “serial infector”, David Kwiatkowski, 33, worked as a medical technician at Hays Hospital from May 2010 to Sept. 2010.

Kwiatkowski is accused of working as a technician where he injected himself with pain medicine and then let the contaminated syringes be reused on unsuspecting patients.  Federal prosecutors have expanded their investigation to six additional states.

Initially, in New Hampshire Exeter Hospital believed that the outbreak was confined to their cardiac catheterization lab.  However, according to Peter McGrath, a former federal prosecutor who is spearheading the legal action lawsuit against Exeter Hospital, “several of my clients had contacted Exeter Hospital weeks ago to notify them that they contracted hepatitis C from a different department within the hospital”.

We will also request independent testing and independent medical treatment for any of our clients who want it.  It is good news that the hospital is testing, but some people may feel uncomfortable returning to the same location where they got contaminated for testing.
My clients who tested positive obviously have a case and their compensation will be allotted based on their individual case within the class action.  But there are a lot of people who minimize the impact and severity of the issues surrounding the people who test negative after they were told they may have been exposed to the virus.  There is a 6-month waiting period to confirm a negative diagnosis, so I can’t emphasize enough that all of these people have a case for emotional distress, whether or not they test positive.  During that 6-month waiting period, these victims have to essentially live their lives as if they are infected with Hepatitis C.  And to make matters worse, many of my clients are now being told they should be tested for AIDS because apparently people with Hepatitis C are at a higher risk of also having AIDS.

Peter G. McGrath is a former federal prosecutor and McGrath Law Firm has affiliate counsel in Kansas and nationwide.

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks and inflames the liver. People infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have differing symptoms. Hepatitis C is generally considered to be one of the most serious of the hepatitis viruses.  It is contracted through contact with contaminated blood.  A hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as scarring of the liver tissue (cirrhosis), liver cancer and liver failure.

McGrath Law Firm has unique medical malpractice experience.  Attorney Peter McGrath is a former federal prosecutor.  McGrath Law Firm has offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms in Kansas and nationwide.

All claims have not been adjudicated and any allegations made are unproven at this time.

McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms nationwide.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!

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Attorney Daniel J. Corley and Attorney Peter G. McGrath providing statement to the Press in NH

McGrath Law Firm announces that it has 2 people who tested positive for hep c in Kansas lawsuit it plans on bringing against Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS.  There is an additional client who is waiting for the test results but showing signs of symptoms for Hep C in Kansas.

David Kwiatkowski, a technician, who was previously employed by Hays Medical Center,  has been charged by authorities in the State of New Hampshire of stealing anesthetic drugs from the cardiac catheterization lab where he worked, injecting himself and contaminating syringes that were later used on patients, 31 of whom have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C that Kwiatkowski carries. Evidence suggests Kwiatkowski has had Hep C since 2010, although he was only diagnosed this past May.

All claims have not been adjudicated and any allegations made are unproven at this time.

McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms nationwide.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!

click here for prior blog

McGrath Law Firm announces that it has 2 people who tested positive for hep c in Kansas lawsuit it plans on bringing against Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS.  There is an additional client who is waiting for the test results but showing signs of symptoms for Hep C in Kansas.
David Kwiatkowski, a technician, who was previously employed by Hays Medical Center,  has been charged by authorities in the State of New Hampshire of stealing anesthetic drugs from the cardiac catheterization lab where he worked, injecting himself and contaminating syringes that were later used on patients, 31 of whom have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C that Kwiatkowski carries. Evidence suggests Kwiatkowski has had Hep C since 2010, although he was only diagnosed this past May.

All claims have not been adjudicated and any allegations made are unproven at this time.

McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms nationwide.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!

click here for prior blog

About 75% of people have no symptoms when they first acquire Hepatitis C virus infection. The remaining 25% may complain of fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches or fever. Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) is rare at this early stage of infection.

Over time, people with chronic infection may begin to experience the effects of the persistent inflammation of the liver caused by the immune reaction to the virus. Blood tests may show elevated levels of liver enzymes, a sign of liver damage, which is often the first suggestion that the infection may be present. Patients may become easily fatigued or complain of nonspecific symptoms.

As cirrhosis develops, symptoms increase and may include:

• weakness,
• loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• breast enlargement in men,
• a rash on the palms,
• difficulty with the clotting of blood, and
• spider-like blood vessels on the skin.

In patients with advanced cirrhosis, the liver begins to fail. This is a life-threatening problem. Confusion and even coma (encephalopathy) may result from the inability of the liver to process certain toxic substances.

Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension) may cause fluid to build up in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and result in engorged veins in the swallowing tube (esophageal varices) that tear easily and can bleed suddenly and massively. Portal hypertension also can cause kidney failure or an enlarged spleen resulting in a decrease of blood cells and the development of (anemia), or the development of low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can promote bleeding.

In advanced cirrhosis, liver failure causes decreased production of clotting factors. Patients with advanced cirrhosis often develop jaundice because the damaged liver is unable to eliminate a yellow compound, called bilirubin that is formed from the hemoglobin of old red blood cells.

McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms nationwide.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!!

click here for prior blog

About 75% of people have no symptoms when they first acquire Hepatitis C virus infection. The remaining 25% may complain of fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches or fever. Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) is rare at this early stage of infection.

Over time, people with chronic infection may begin to experience the effects of the persistent inflammation of the liver caused by the immune reaction to the virus. Blood tests may show elevated levels of liver enzymes, a sign of liver damage, which is often the first suggestion that the infection may be present. Patients may become easily fatigued or complain of nonspecific symptoms.

As cirrhosis develops, symptoms increase and may include:

• weakness,
• loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• breast enlargement in men,
• a rash on the palms,
• difficulty with the clotting of blood, and
• spider-like blood vessels on the skin.

In patients with advanced cirrhosis, the liver begins to fail. This is a life-threatening problem. Confusion and even coma (encephalopathy) may result from the inability of the liver to process certain toxic substances.

Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension) may cause fluid to build up in the abdominal cavity (ascites) and result in engorged veins in the swallowing tube (esophageal varices) that tear easily and can bleed suddenly and massively. Portal hypertension also can cause kidney failure or an enlarged spleen resulting in a decrease of blood cells and the development of (anemia), or the development of low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can promote bleeding.

In advanced cirrhosis, liver failure causes decreased production of clotting factors. Patients with advanced cirrhosis often develop jaundice because the damaged liver is unable to eliminate a yellow compound, called bilirubin that is formed from the hemoglobin of old red blood cells.

McGrath Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and has affiliations with law firms nationwide.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the Hepatitis C outbreak? Do you want to know your legal rights? Call Attorney Peter G. McGrath at (800) 283 1380 or (603) 224-7111 or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com to learn about your legal rights!! We get results!!!

click here for prior blog