Fort Bliss nurse accused of giving patients Hepatitis C

Bliss nurse accused of giving patients hepatitis

By Alicia A. Caldwell - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Mar 11, 2008 7:43:02 EDT

EL PASO, Texas — A former Army hospital employee is accused of infecting at least three patients with hepatitis C, federal authorities said Monday.

Jon Dale Jones, a 45-year-old former nurse anesthetist at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, was arrested Thursday in Miami. He was indicted last month on three counts each of assault, aggravated assault, and possession of a controlled substance by fraud.

Jones was released from jail after posting 5 percent of his $200,000 bond.

His Miami lawyer, Edward O’Donnell, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Monday.

Federal prosecutors say Jones infected at least three patients with Hepatitis C, a blood-borne disease that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer, while siphoning drugs from them during surgeries at the Army hospital in 2004.

Jones, a civilian, is also accused of stealing the drug fentanyl, a powerful painkiller often used for anesthesia, from the three patients.

It’s not clear how or why he infected them.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_hepatitis_031108/