Rose released a statement on Thursday insisting that Parker knew about the hepatitis C:
"Today, we also would like to make absolutely clear: The Rose Medical Center employee health nurse spoke with Ms. Parker at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 for about 20 minutes prior to the new employee orientation. Our nurse told Ms. Parker about her hepatitis C results and counseled the new employee to see her doctor. Our nurse offered to make an appointment for Ms. Parker at the Rose Family Medicine clinic which would be a free visit. And the nurse counseled Ms. Parker about health care precautions to prevent the transmission of the disease at work." Also during that videotaped interview, Parker was asked if she had any suggestions for hospitals. "I guess, be more aware of what you leave laying around, as messed up as that might sound," she said. "If [narcotics] are locked up or on a doctor's body, then you really have nothing to worry about." If found Parker is found guilty on all charges, she could face more than 30 years in prison. If the court finds her actions seriously harmed someone, she could face additional prison time. If the court finds her actions caused death, Parker could face life in prison Rose is offering free testing for the virus to everyone who had surgery at Rose Medical Center or at the outpatient surgery department in the Wolf Building at Rose between October 21, 2008 and April 13, 2009.
Only those patients require testing. The hospital says women who gave birth at the hospital and anyone who was treated in the emergency room do not need to be tested.
Rose says it is getting 300 calls a day and about 800 people have gone for testing.
The hospital says it believes it will see positive results from the screenings because between 1 percent and 3 percent of the general population is infected with hepatitis C and as many as half do not know it.
Audubon has also set up a hotline at 719-867-7500. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis C is a virus that can cause lasting liver damage. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C but it can be treated with medication. />
