Possible Victims Of N.J. Hospital HIV Exposure Expected To Come Forward: Attorneys

Possible victims of alleged HIV exposure at a N.J. hospital are expected to come forward, according to attorneys involved in a class action suit.

A law firm is talking to two clients and expects more to come forward who were potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis at a the hospital, according to nj.com.

The possible victims were connected to a former Shore Medical Center pharmacist’s alleged negligence that exposed 213 patients to HIV and hepatitis. The hospital informed patients of the possible exposure through letters sent to them, according to nj.com.

Frederick P. McLeish, 53, of Egg Harbor Township, was to appear in court Monday for allegedly taking morphine vials intended for patients and replacing it with saline solution, according to nj.com.

GMS Law put together the class action lawsuit against Shore Medical Center, saying the hospital violated the Pure Food and Drug Act - which protects consumers from tainted drugs - and delayed in notifying patients of their possible exposure to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, according to the report.

As many as 213 patients may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B or C because of drug tampering, officials at the hospital said.

Officials are investigating whether patients who received intravenous medications at the Shore Medical Center in Somers Point between June 1, 2013 and Sept. 17, 2014 contracted the diseases, NBC10 reported.

The hospital says these patients who received morphine or hydromorphone may have come into contact with an employee’s blood as the result of drug tampering, according to the report.

“We have contacted all patients who received certain intravenous medication between June 1, 2013 and Sept. 17, 2014,” according to a hospital statement published by NBC10. “We are providing free testing and support through every step and are partnering with local health department agencies during this testing period in order to be extremely cautious.”