2,500 women potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis risk at Toronto gynecologist

About 2,500 women may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C at a Toronto gynecologist due to ‘improper cleaning’ of medical instruments. In a letter sent to the patients of Dr. Esther Park’s clinic on Feb. 12, the Toronto Public Health warned about the potential exposure to serious bloodborne infections. The letter was sent to patients who visited the gynecologist between Oct. 10, 2020, and Oct. 10, 2024. The Toronto Public Health said there is a ‘very small chance’ of the disease-causing bacteria and viruses being passed from one patient to another. The clinic is located at 20 Edna Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 185. Toronto Public Health said in a letter to patients that during a four-year span beginning in October 2020, tools at Dr. Esther Park's clinic in the High Park neighbourhood weren't cleaned properly, resulting in a "very small chance" that bacteria and viruses could have been passed from one patient to another. Patients of Dr. Esther Park's Clinic who may have received one or more of the following procedures are at risk of infection. The Toronto Public Health (TPH) stated that if the patients did not receive any of the above procedures at this clinic, no further action is required. “The failure to properly clean, disinfect or sterilize medical instruments can be associated with transmission of bloodborne viruses, particularly HBV (hepatitis B virus), HCV (hepatitis C virus) and, to a lesser extent, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While the risk of transmission is very low, there is still a possibility that you may have been exposed,” they said in the letter. TPH recommended that patients who may have had any of the above-mentioned procedures at Dr. Esther Park's Clinic consult their healthcare provider and discuss testing for HBV, HCV, and HIV, as a precautionary step. The women, who received the letters are furious and have called out against this outrageous practice, that may have put thousands of women’s lives at risk. Dr. Esther Park's Clinic hasn't responded to the story yet. The office's answering machine says Park is retiring and no longer accepting new patients, and the clinic will be closing in April.(Pic courtesy: iStock)