New York Governor Proposes Measure to Empower Medical Monitoring Agency
In response to the irresponsible inaction by the New York State Health Department regarding unsafe and unsanitary practices of Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, Gov. David Paterson is proposing a measure that would empower the state Office of Professional Medical Conduct, which monitors and disciplines physicians. The change is part of a broad safety measure where the OPMC would continuously review malpractice claims and investigate misconduct rather than relying on outside referrals as it does now. The measure includes allowing the OPMC to act more aggressively in halting infectious disease risks. In Dr. Finkelstein’s case it took over a year for the state Health Department to inform thousands of patients of their risk of possibly contracting Hepatitis A and B, HIV and AIDS when it was discovered he reused syringes and pre-filled doses of medication among different patients.
