Thousands at risk of Hepatitis C as medical tech is arrested

Up to 6,000 patients may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis C, following the arrest of a medical technician. Kirsten Diane Parker, 26, is accused of swapping her dirty needles for new ones filled with painkillers, which were meant for patients.

Parker, who was addicted to painkillers, tested positive for Hepatitis C and worked at the Rose Medical Centre in Denver and the Colorado Springs Audubon Ambulatory Surgery between October of last year and June 2009. 6,000 patients who had surgery at the medical centres during that time have been urged to get tested for hepatitis C, with 10 cases already been linked to former Rose patients.

Parker told detectives that she carried used syringes filled with saline in her pocket and swapped them for syringes filled with Fentanyl from operating tables. Fentanyl is a narcotic that is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.