UM hospital nurse accused infecting patients, arrested
Jon Dale Jones, a nurse accused of intentionally infecting up to 15 patients in Texas with hepatitis C, worked at the University of Miami hospital as recently as March 5, according to The Miami Herald.
Jones was arrested at 6 a.m. on March 6. The federal indictment accused Jones of assaulting six patients in 2004 and illegally acquiring the pain killer fentanyl.
In a statement after Jones’ arrest, the university said it immediately began to identify patients who had come into contact with Jones during his time at the hospital, and will proceed to take measures to protect their safety. Jones worked at the UM hospital for a month.
Jones contracted hepatitis C while working at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in Fort Bliss, Texas, and injected himself with fentanyl before injecting patients with the used needles, said Clark Harmonson, an El Paso attorney, who has filed a civil lawsuit in the matter.
Jones was the only staff member with hepatitis C known to be in the operating room with all 15 patients, Harmonson added.
Jones’ attorney, Ed O’Donnell, said his client ”absolutely” maintains his innocence.
Jones was released on a $200,000 bond earlier this week, on condition that he not work as a nurse anesthetist on any patients and not have access to or possess narcotics, said The Herald.
– Chelsea Kate Isaacs
Etc.
On March 17, the University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy received $500,000 in federal funds to continue its impressive work of examining and holding discussions about important issues concerning our hemisphere.