Medical Scopes

A recent Senate investigation found that 16 hospitals across the country that saw infections and deaths as a result of tainted scopes failed to file mandatory federal reports on them. Last year, seven patients were infected and three patients died as a result of tainted scopes at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The Food and Drug Administration did not notify hospitals about issues with the scopes until it was reported by the Los Angeles Times. Since then, the company that manufactures the scopes, Olympus Corp., has recalled the scopes and announced plans for a redesign. But is it too late?