Hep C Lawsuit Against Exeter Hospital Includes 169 Patients

A class-action lawsuit against Exeter Hospital for a disastrous hepatitis C outbreak now includes 169 patients.

Prosecutors said the outbreak was caused by hospital worker Dave Kwiatkowski, who allegedly spread his hepatitis C to at least 32 patients by injecting himself with their medication to get high. Kwiatkowski would allegedly inject himself then replace the needles with a saline solution to make it appear they were untouched.

Concord-based attorney Peter McGrath said he has 169 clients in a lawsuit against the hospital and a staffing firm that placed Kwiatkowski in Exeter, according to the Concord Monitor.

McGrath's clients include some of the 32 infected patients, as well as other patients who were exposed to Kwiatkowski.

Exeter Hospital officials have said they are working with some of the infected patients on a treatment plan. An advocacy group is also helping some patients who could qualify for an experimental treatment.

Kwiatkowski, who's currently in jail, is due in court Oct. 9, the Monitor reported.