THOUSANDS of patients of a Wollongong doctor are urged to come forward for HIV and hepatitis testing after his practice was found unhygienic.
Health authorities are in the process of contacting Dr Zakaria Lakhany’s former patients who could be at risk of contracting a blood-borne disease after having an endoscopy or colonoscopy at his surgery in Warrawong, south of Wollongong.
NSW Health yesterday stressed the risk to the doctor’s patients was low but it was not taking any chances.
It follows an investigation into his practice on May 6 after several patients needed emergency assistance following a procedure at his practice.
Public health officers found Dr Lakhany’s equipment was not sterilised up to standards and a batch of anaesthetic may have been contaminated, causing patients to get sick.
“There is a low risk that some patients of this practice could have been exposed to infection,” a health alert said yesterday.
“As a precaution, we are encouraging former patients to undergo screening for blood-borne infections.
“This advice is for people who have had endoscopy procedures, including gastroscopy and colonoscopy.”
Dr Lakhany has ceased to practice. The Medical Board and Health Care Complaints Commission has been notified.
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