Patients warned after alert over doctor’s tools

Cleaning cited in risk of hepatitis and HIV

Improperly cleaned implements at a Hamilton doctor’s office have prompted a get-tested warning to patients from as far back as 1979.

Public health officials urge patients of Dr. Lorin Harding, who had minor surgical procedures done at his office, to get a blood test that checks for hepatitis B and C and HIV.

The procedures include removing skin tags, warts, moles and cysts, or biopsy testing for skin cancers. Patients from years ago still need to get checked unless they have been already tested since their procedure with Harding, said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, associate medical officer of health.

“Often the symptoms may not show up for years.”

The problem at Harding’s office came to light after the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario “received information that raised questions about his infection control practices,” said college spokesperson Kathryn Clarke.

The college did an “infection prevention and control inspection” at the doctor’s Queenston Road office and referred the matter to public health, which has the power to issue orders, Clarke said.

The problem has since been corrected.

Neither the college nor the health unit conducts routine inspections of doctor’s offices. Public health does them based on a complaint or a referral from the college, Hopkins said.

The health unit issued its warning in a news release Wednesday in a bid to reach as many patients as possible.

“We’re not able to send letters to patients directly,” Hopkins said.

The number of procedures performed and patients affected is unknown but public health believes there are many.

Three such breaches or “lapses” are listed for 2017 on Hamilton’s public health website: Harding’s office. Dr. Vineet Arora’s ophthalmology clinic on Upper Paradise Road.

A former tattoo operation run by Tygar Campbell on Gage Avenue South.

Warnings were not issued for the last two because the public was not at risk, said city spokesperson Aisling Higgins.

No breaches were reported in 2016, Hopkins said.

The college website, as of Wednesday, listed no issues with Harding.

The college’s investigation into Harding is ongoing.

Hamilton’s warning comes a week after Halton Region’s health unit warned patients of dentist Dr. Vick Handa to get tested for the same infectious diseases after his Upper Middle Dental clinic in Burlington may have exposed them to improperly cleaned equipment.