LAS VEGAS -- Doctor Michael Kaplan is now telling his side of the story after more than 100 of his patients were told to get tested for HIV and hepatitis.
The doctor was found re-using single use needle guides. Though the doctor and his attorney didn't give any interviews, they're reaching out to the public by newspaper and online.
It was hard to miss the large advertisement taken out in Wednesday morning's Review-Journal. In it, attorney Dominic Gentile gives reasons why Kaplan re-used single use needle guides. Other local doctors are also backing up Kaplan.
"The Truth About Dr. Michael Kaplan" is the title of the half-page ad taken out in the newspaper. It says "an ultra-sound equipment vendor represented that the plastic needle guides could be reused three to five times."
The ad also says the doctor used high-level disinfection to clean the guides between patients. The campaign has also been taken to the web.
"He's considered the go to guy in Las Vegas and clearly almost all of the physicians trust their family members with him. He's kind of like the doctor's doctor," said Dr. Randall Weingarten in a video on Kaplan's website. The website is named "Dr. Michael Kaplan: The Truth" and includes includes taped testimonials from local physicians and patients supporting the suspended doctor.
"He cares a lot about people and taking care of people and a lot about doing the right thing for people. That's really been his passion," said Dr. Steven Winkler, in one of the testimonials.
"I strongly feel that there is another side to this whole story and I think it's important for us to figure it out but I do know for a fact that this community would be poorly served without Dr. Kaplan," said Dr. Weingarten.
But University Medical Center Chief of Staff Dr. Dale Carrison has his own strong opinions saying this case once again ruins patient trust.
"If you look at infection control, single use is single use, that's just the end of it. You can't go past that in my world because it's not there," said Dr. Carrison. He says vendor misrepresentation is no excuse. "If the vendor told him it was ok to illegally park his car, would he go illegally park his car? If the vendor told him it was ok to steal, would he go steal? You have to make that judgment.
But rushing to judgement is something the advertisement and website are asking the community not to do. The ad claims the doctor used the plastic needle guides for less than three weeks and immediately stopped when a questions arose. The ad says 33 patients were affected which is a vast difference from the 101 patients notified by the health district and medical board to get tested for HIV and hepatitis.
Some of the doctors featured on the website did not return calls to 8 News NOW.
