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STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER

Recent news reports about the state Department of Health’s unacceptably slow response to allegations of infection control lapses are deeply troubling. The Department of Health has no more important objective than the safety of the public and clearly its response was not what it should have been.

The Department of Health has come under new leadership since the time of this incident and the new Commissioner, Dr. Richard Daines, moved his staff to complete the case investigations and to implement a plan to alert potential victims and to get them tested for hepatitis C and other communicable viruses.

I have directed Commissioner Daines to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter and to report back to me. I have every confidence that Commissioner Daines will give this matter the vigorous review that is critically needed. He will oversee the implementation of corrective measures and other proactive controls to ensure that something like this never happens again.