Meningitis Outbreak Linked to NECC

The New England Compounding Center, a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, and its former supervisory pharmacist, Glenn Adam Chin, have been linked to the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people. About 750 people from 20 states developed meningitis or other infections because of tainted injections from the Compounding Center. This is a tragic case showing that improper sanitation can lead to several senseless deaths.

A fungus was found inside the pharmacy’s sealed steroid vials. Other vials that had been used on patients also were contaminated. Even more contaminants were later found at the Compounding Center’s plant, including standing water, mold, water droplets and dirty equipment. Chin, who oversaw the sterile clean rooms at the Compounding Center, has been arrested. Officials allege he is responsible for the deadly meningitis outbreak because he did not properly sterilize and test equipment, and he intentionally and actively concealed theses unsafe practices.

According to law enforcement officials, Chin told the Compounding Center’s pharmacy technicians to fraudulently complete cleaning logs at the end of the month to make it seem like the rooms were properly cleaned and maintained. Officials allege that the rooms were not cleaned, and the pharmacy’s own weekly testing showed bacteria and mold in the rooms.

Texas laws governing pharmaceutical malpractice litigation are complex. If you have suffered from pharmaceutical malpractice, work with a specialist in this area of the law who knows both the legal complications of pharmacy litigation and the medical issues involved. Greening Law, P.C. is experienced in the area of pharmacy malpractice and has successfully prosecuted multiple pharmacy malpractice cases, including prescription errors, miss-filled prescriptions, and failure to monitor patient prescriptions. Contact Greening Law, P.C. at 972-934-8900.