- A former anesthetist accused of infecting patients with
hepatitis C was arrested on Friday on suspicions of obstruction of justice,
Army Radio reported.
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- Police suspect that Dr. Sergei Puntos, a former anesthesiologist
at Soroka Hospital who was indicted three weeks ago of infecting at least
31 patients with the virus, called one of the doctors who was to testify
at his trial, warning him that he had taped their conversation.
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- Pontus will be brought before a judge on Saturday to
extend his arrest.
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- The indictment against Pontus says the infections were
caused by his using on patients the same hypodermic needles he used for
his own addiction to anesthetics. There are 31 charges of aggravated battery,
maliciously spreading disease, fraud and breach of trust.
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- The charge sheet says the doctor was addicted to Pentanol,
normally used for inducing deep sleep during surgery, and took the drug
up to 25 times a day, often administering anesthetics to patients while
under the influence.
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- The indictment says that between February and April this
year, he routinely injected himself with the drug in the physicians' bathrooms
in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The charge sheet says that
"while taking the dangerous drug, his blood [already infected with
hepatitis C] was sprayed on the wall ceramics."
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- More than 30 witnesses, including doctors and former
patients, are due to testify for the prosecution to try to prove a connection
between the doctor and the incidents of hepatitis C among his patients.
Puntos denied the charges.
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- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/356382.html
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