News - Local
Lawmakers want more oversight of surgical staff
Posted: Apr 30, 2010 6:29 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
The case of a surgical technician exposing 6,000 patients in Colorado to Hepatitis C while feeding her drug addiction has prompted legislators to consider requiring surgical staff to register with the state.
The House Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony Thursday on two bills designed to increase oversight of the medical staffers.
The bills' sponsors say more oversight could have prevented Kristen Diane Parker from injecting herself with painkillers and leaving behind the dirty needles to be reused on patients.
Parker pleaded guilty last year to stealing the painkiller fentanyl and then refilling the contaminated needles with saline solution.
She was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
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