Olympus reportedly told U.S. managers not to issue a warning about contaminated scopes

Internal e-mails suggest that Olympus officials based in Japan attempted to hide news of a potential outbreak from U.S.


Internal e-mails suggest that Olympus officials based in Japan attempted to hide information about potentially deadly infections linked to its duodenoscopes, according to an article on the Outpatient Survey website.

After Olympus issued a safety alert about its duodenoscopes to its European customers, U.S. executives asked whether they should also warn their customers. 

The Olympus officials told the U.S. executives that issuing a global alert was "not needed" and said the problems were due to poor reprocessing by the U.S. hospitals.

Despite allegedly knowing since 2012 that design issues made the scopes nearly impossible to clean, Olympus continued blaming hospitals for the infections.

Read the article.

 

 



August 2, 2016


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

AI Adoption on the Rise Among Leaders

AI usage increased in all markets in the fourth quarter of 2025.


TriasMD Officially Opens DISC Surgery Center at Tarzana

At 10,930 square feet, DISC Surgery Center at Tarzana includes three high-technology operating rooms and 11 patient care bays.


Goshen Health Announces Partnership with Parkview Health

Through this partnership, Goshen anticipates becoming Parkview's largest hospital outside of Fort Wayne and will serve as a regional hub for care, access and growth.


Severe Winter Weather: What Healthcare Facilities Must Prioritize

Prioritizing critical systems and strategies is key to protecting patients, staff and operations during severe winter weather.


Recovery Centers of America Opens New Facility in Florida

Spanning 19 acres, the campus will include seven buildings, a pond, an outdoor recreation area with a pool, a full basketball court and a rock-climbing wall.


 
 


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.