Thursday, June 24, 2010

Bomersheim v. Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center (Cal. Ct. App. - May 26, 2010)

"Defendant Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center (defendant or the Center) provides medical services in Los Angeles County. From January 1999 to March 2004 defendant treated with Bicillin C-R more than 600 patients presenting with confirmed syphilis infection or reported sexual contact with someone who was known or suspected to be infected with syphilis. Bicillin C-R is not recommended for such use. The proper formulation would have been Bicillin L-A. Though both medications contain the same amount of penicillin, Bicillin C-R is a mixture of short- and long-acting penicillin, while Bicillin L-A is composed wholly of long-acting penicillin. Robert Bolan, M.D., the Center's medical director, admitted in deposition that Bicillin C-R 'was incorrect for the condition . . . treated.'"