Focus: Infection Control

Judge orders new superbug trial for Olympus

Court said manufacturer didn't properly disclose safety concerns


A King County (Wash.) Superior Court judge ordered a new trial in a wrongful-death case that claimed that a tainted Olympus scope caused the infection that led to a man's death in 2013, according to an article on the Los Angeles Times website.

The judge said Olympus Corp. failed to properly disclose internal emails that raised safety concerns about a redesigned medical scope as early as 2008, several years before the device was publicly tied to deadly superbug outbreaks.

In the first trial, the jury returned a mixed verdict, finding that the device’s design was not unsafe.

The emails — which Olympus shared with the plaintiffs but were not translated from Japanese for the trial as required — suggest that the company was aware of a potential design problem at least four years earlier than has been disclosed.

Read the article.

 



January 24, 2018


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Disinfectant Contact Time: The Case for Biofilm Disruption

Contact time, while essential for compliance, does not reliably predict microbial reduction on actual healthcare surfaces.


Texas HHSC Reaches Construction Milestone for Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo

Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.


Mon General Succumbs to Phishing Cyberattack

Its investigation ultimately determined that an unauthorized party gained access to certain Mon General email mailboxes on May 6, 2026.


The HVAC Dilemma: To Repair or Replace?

Healthcare facilities that keep repairing and optimizing aging systems past their useful life spend money on a problem they cannot solve without capital investment.


Department of Veterans Affairs Signs Lease for Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Kentucky

Construction and facility preparation are expected to be completed by the winter of 2027, and the first patient should be seen by spring 2028.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.