Doctor Tied to Nevada Hepatitis Outbreak Reinstated

LAS VEGAS—The Associated Press is reporting that the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners ruled July 1 to restore privileges to practice medicine to Eladio Carrer, MD, a co-owner of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, which is involved in one of the largest hepatitis C scares in the nation.

Carrera and his partner, Dipak Desai, MD, had been barred from practicing medicine after they were accused of using unsterilized equipment at their endoscopy center.

As part of the settlement, Carrera agreed to testify in other malpractice cases against Desai and Clifford Carol, MD, a physician who worked there. Carrera received two years probation, a $15,000 fine and a public reprimand Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.

Desai, who has not had his license reinstated, is facing 22 medical malpractice lawsuits from patients who claim they were exposed to hepatitis C from procedures.