PITTSBURGH — A former patient is suing UPMC after she was among thousands of people potentially exposed to tuberculosis.
According to court paperwork, Michele Harris-Barber is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
PREVIOUS STORY: UPMC notifying patients after employee tests positive for tuberculosis
The lawsuit alleges that UPMC dropped the ball by allowing an infected nurse to go undetected.
The health care giant notified approximately 4,700 people about the possible contact with the infected employee in April.
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"It's called latent TB and she could later develop it if it's not treated and then potentially become contagious and that's when it can spread," said Brendan Lupetin, attorney for one of the patients who tested positive for bacteria consistent with TB. "She's taking steps through her doctors to make sure she doesn't get there to wipe out the TB in her now."
According to Lupetin, UPMC was negligent in "failing to use reasonable care in the maintenance of safe and adequate facilities, specifically a hospital free of health care personnel infected with TB, who as a consequence would contaminate the air with such bacteria."
"One of the primary allegations in the complaint is that there were not appropriate policies or the policies that were put in place were not enforced properly by UPMC," Lupetin said.
UPMC sent Channel 11 the following statement:
UPMC acted quickly to work with local health authorities to notify potentially exposed patients and to protect their health. We will defend this suit in court, not in the media.
In the letter UPMC sent to patients, the affected parties were urged to follow up at the health department, but Lupetin and his client say it wasn't enough.
"She's worried and concerned, but also wants to make sure this wasn't left and swept under he rug," Lupetin said. "She wants there to be answers and accountability."
The complaint has been filed and now goes to court for a judge to determine if it qualifies for a class action certification.