A Never Event

Book excerpt: CANCER CLINIC CAUSES WORST HEPATITIS OUTBREAK IN US HISTORY In the small farming community of Fremont, Nebraska, townspeople eagerly welcomed an acclaimed doctor as the first full-time oncologist at their new cancer treatment center-but the fanfare soon turned into a nightmare. During chemotherapy treatments, 857 patients who were already waging the fights of their lives against cancer, were inexplicably exposed to the deadly, blood-borne hepatitis C virus. At least ninety-nine of them contracted the lethal illness. The horror was unprecedented-this was the largest healthcare-transmitted outbreak of hepatitis C in American history. A Never Event-a term used to describe a preventable medical tragedy-is a searing story of recklessness, deception and betrayal. It's part mystery, part courtroom drama. Written by a survivor of the tragedy and an attorney who represented many of the victims, A Never Event is a wake-up call to medical and legal communities nationwide. "[A] harrowing account... I commend [McKnight's] advocacy and efforts to raise awareness about healthcare-related infections and other potentially life-threatening illnesses."-Hon. Shelley Berkley, congresswoman, Nevada "The wake-up call to doctors, nurses and to patients."-Joe Hardy, MD, Nevada State Assembly "A 'must-read' for patients." -Charles Stokes, president and CEO, CDC Foundation "[McKnight's] story has provided hope to people across the nation."-Lawrence Sands, DO, MPH