Patients of Doctor at Risk of HIV, Hepatitis B and C

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- New York health officials say about 630 patients of a Long Island physician, who was cited for unsanitary medical practices on patients, may be at risk for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

1010 WINS AUDIO: Mona Rivera Reports

1010 WINS learned Wednesday afternoon that the doctor has been identified as anesthesiologist Harvey Finkelstein.

Health Department Press Release

Contrary to earlier reports, the state health department said Finkelstein did not reuse needles or syringes, but rather a multi-dose medicine vial that became contaminated. Every time a clean needle was inserted into the vial the potential was there for it to become contaminated as well.

In early 2005, the Nassau health department were alerted of two Hepatitis C cases, who were both patients of Finkelstein sometime between July 2004 and September 2004.

The health department says it investigated the incident right away and determined that Dr. Finkelstein had been "following an improper infection control procedure that had the potential of transmitting a virus from one patient to another."

The health department at the time contacted all of the patients who had been treated at the practice within a week the two Hepatitis C patients had been in the office. In the middle of 2005, 98 patients were contacted and 84 of them were tested. Three of the patients tested positive for Hepatitis C. However, the health department claims one of the positive results was a coincidence and the patient had picked up the virus somewhere else.

Upon further investigation, the health department determined that Finkelstein had been practicing the procedure improperly since 2000. A list was made of nearly 600 patients who had undergone a similar procedure as those that had tested positive for Hepatitis C.

The additional 600 patients were notified last week. So far, none of these patients have tested positive for Hepatitis C.

Finkelstein apparently used the improper procedures at a pain clinic and orthopedist's office. The doctor's office is located across from Plainview Hospital where he had admitting privileges.

The North Shore-LIJ Health System, which Plainview Hospital is a part of, is going to conduct it's own investigation. The health system issued a statement which said the Pain Care clinic where Finkelstein works is not affiliated with or overseen by the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Though Finkelstein has admitting privileges at Plainview Hospital he does not work for the hospital or the health system.

North Shore-LIJ said that based on the information they have received so far, all of the patients who were sent letters by the state department of health were treated at the doctor's private office, not at the hospital.

North Shore-LIJ said the state never informed them about the doctor's problems.

The state's disciplinary board for doctors closed the Finkelstein case in September, without finding any violations. Health officials say he has cleaned up his injection practices and agreed to be monitored for three years.

Photo by Mona Rivera

More Long Island news...

(TM & © 2007 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO & EYE Logo TM & © 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In the interest of timeliness, this story is fed directly from the newswire and may contain occasional typographical errors. )