Infection Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Arkansas Cancer Clinic

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Irvin Jackson

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At least three patients treated at the Arkansas Cancer Institute are joined in a class action lawsuit, which alleges they were each sickened by a bacterial outbreak last year that resulted from negligent behavior. 

Last week, Robert Mingo and Alice Jenkins were added to a medical malpractice lawsuit originally filed by Steven Edwards in December, which presents claims against the Arkansas Cancer Institute in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit stems from a bacterial outbreak at the cancer clinic in Pine Bluff in late October. More than 50 people tested positive for a bacterial infection, which had been previously unknown, and at least three people infected died, although it was unclear whether their deaths were caused by the bacterial outbreak.

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Arkansas Department of Health officials say that the bacteria spread through a saline flush used on medical device ports implanted into patients to help deliver medication. The cancer clinic sent warning letters to 155 patients who had the ports used at the clinic between March 22 and September 11, warning they are considered at risk of the bacteria.

The newly discovered bacteria has been designated FVL-2018-32. It does not appear to be easily passed from person-to-person and investigators said that it was not believed to be a danger to those with healthy immune systems.

The lawsuit seeks class action status to include all patients who had ports flushed between March 22 and September 11 last year, according to a report in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette posted on January 13. The lawsuit accuses the clinic of medical malpractice, negligent behavior and deviating from standards of care, saying that the facility failed to follow infection control plans by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and failed to comply with manufacturer instructions on how to perform the saline flush.

The clinic has denied all of the allegations and has called for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

Irvin Jackson
Written by: Irvin Jackson

Senior Legal Journalist & Contributing Editor

Irvin Jackson is a senior investigative reporter at AboutLawsuits.com with more than 30 years of experience covering mass tort litigation, environmental policy, and consumer safety. He previously served as Associate Editor at Inside the EPA and contributes original reporting on product liability lawsuits, regulatory failures, and nationwide litigation trends.

Tags: Arkansas, Bacterial Contamination, Cancer, Hospital Infection
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2 Comments

Wade
River Ridge Treatment in Arkansas/ Texarkana on State Line Rd. Sewage backup due to feminine hygiene products. Aug. 3, 2018 to Aug. 14, 2018. Coed facility. I was denied treatment for alcoholism under state care and falsely accused of conduct issues by the manager(Carlotta) who was at Little Rock the entire time I was in the facility(. ONE WEEK). I have since become very ill with a serious bacterial/ parasitic infection and severely depressed. Currently under Dr.s care and taking eight prescription medications, half of which are high level doses of antibiotics. On EBT and Ambetter/Medicaid health insurance. I also have a injury with documentation and video at a Union County Arkansas premises and was denied medical assistance. Unrelated to the RiverRidge incident. I’m extremely addicted to Juul vape device.
TRACY
i was a patient at the Arkansas Cancer Center after a appointment, I went to the ER 2 times, with back hurting, chills, and fever, i tested positive both times for the bacteria infection from the saline solution used to flush my port and after that tested positive at the cancer center in 3 test positive.

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