A US hospital technician, who allegedly infected over 47 people with fatal virus hepatitis C, will plead guilty in a bid to avoid the probable 30-40 years jail term for his heinous act.
Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal blood-borne virus that ravages the liver and can cause chronic health problems. Primarily affecting the liver, Hepatitis C can result in liver failure if left untreated.
David Kwiatkowskal is alleged to have infected dozens of patients by secretly injecting himself with the painkillers they were supposed to receive and refilling the contaminated syringes with saline solution.
The plea agreement states that a patient in Kansas got infected with hepatitis C due to the accused and the infection played a “contributing role” in the patient’s death, according to a news agency.
Kwiatkowski is facing criminal charges in Kansas, Georgia and Maryland. These are the states where authorities allege that the cardiac technologist injected himself with stolen syringes and later used on patients. He stands accused of infecting patients at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire; Johns Hopkins University and the VA Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.; and Hays Medical Center in Kansas.
Kwiatkowski was arrested in July 2012. During interrogation he made the startling revelations about his horrendous actions. He also admitted that he was well aware of his hepatitis status since 2010.
Kwiatkowski was employed as a “traveler” by staffing agencies, who dispatched the technician around the country, typically for short-term jobs.