“Hospital care is about integrity, compassion and honesty — not silence,” Muscarella told the publication.

When asked by the paper about the issue, Pasadena Public Health officials declined to comment as the investigation is still open.


“Part of the investigation includes looking into any fatalities that may have occurred," stated Pasadena spokesperson William Boyer.

The hospital spokesperson also declined to comment, other than to point to Verette's earlier statement.

It remains unclear just how many people may have been affected by the outbreak at Huntington hospital.

“The allegation is that Olympus knew that the models could not be disinfected,” said Peter Kaufman, a lawyer for three patients suing Olympus after getting sick following procedures with the older scopes at Huntington. Two of these people died.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years and for whatever reason, underreporting of adverse events related to drugs and medical devices continues to be a problem that puts patients at risk,” he told the Star, adding, “I think a lot of it has to do with the way manufacturers market and interact with physicians and hospitals. It’s a market-driven endeavor. It seems like safety is one of the first casualties.”

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