Toddler pricked by contaminated needles
From Laura Batchelor, CNN
October 22, 2010 8:17 p.m. EDT

Hailey Rodriguez's mother had brought her to the clinic for treatment of a skin rash.

    * New York girl had to be treated with a drug cocktail to prevent HIV and hepatitis
    * She was accidentally pricked by contaminated needles left on the floor
    * Her mother said top wasn't securely on bio hazard bin full of uncapped dirty needles
    * She'll take drug cocktail for six months before determining whether she's infected

New York (CNN) -- A girl taken to a clinic for a skin rash had to be treated with a drug cocktail to prevent HIV and hepatitis after she was accidentally pricked by contaminated needles on the floor, according to the attorney for the family.

Hailey Rodriguez, who turned 3 on Monday, is sick from the side effects of the drug cocktail she was given by Montefiore Medical Center after the ordeal, Susan Karten, Maklad's attorney told CNN.

Nadia Maklad took her daughter to the Montefiore Medical Pavilion in the Bronx on October 7 because Hailey had a minor skin rash. Maklad was talking to the doctor in the examination room when she heard her daughter screaming and crying.

"I asked her what happened. She lifted up her dress, her stomach was bleeding and her hand was bleeding. She pointed to a bin: it was a red bio hazard bin on the floor," Maklad told CNN. "The top wasn't securely on, the opening where you put the needles was broken, the bin was full of uncapped dirty needles."

Steve Osborne, a spokesman for Montefiore, told CNN, "We've been consulting with the family regarding the incident, and working with them to see that appropriate care is provided."

"How this could happen at an institution like Montefiore is beyond me," Susan Karten, Maklad's attorney told CNN.

Rodriguez is at risk for HIV infecton and hepatitis; she is taking the drug cocktail as preventative treatment as it takes six months to find out if she is infected with HIV, Karten explained to CNN.

This is terrible!  The thing that stood out to me was this:

"Nadia Maklad took her daughter to the Montefiore Medical Pavilion in the Bronx on October 7 because Hailey had a minor skin rash. Maklad was talking to the doctor in the examination room when she heard her daughter screaming and crying."

She "heard" her daughter screaming and crying?  Where was the mother? Why would you leave a 3 year old unattended in another room?

Lesson learned: Don't go to the doctor's office for every little thing. If you can Google it and treat it yourself, do so! Most fevers and ailments can't be cured with a magic wand by the doctor anyhow.

Only go to the doctor when you're concerned about your child (labored breathing, etc.) If the child is sniffling, has a cold/cough, or even a low fever, just use the old-fashioned methods of treatment.

For one thing, doctors offices have a LOT of germs with all the sick people around -- and, apparently, bio-hazard needles.

I bet this girl's mother wishes she had just put some Vaseline on the rash and gone about her business.

Matthew

Spot on Matthew!  The problem is that parents no longer trust themselves or their judgment.  Parents are inundated from the moment their children are born that they don't know ANYTHING and that they should just trust the professionals.  Also, most parents can't or don't want to take off from work to take care of a sick child--the day care won't keep them.  Parent's would MUCH rather just run to the Dr and get a pill.

And if your children are enrolled in any school, you are required to take them to the Dr. anyway before they can come back.  Case in point:  Last year, 3 of our school age children had the flu.  It was fairly mild and I kept them at home for 3 days.  No big deal right.  Wrong.  In order for them to return to school, I HAD to take my children to the Dr. so the Dr. could write a note telling the school that my children  had been sick but were no longer sick.  Yep.

I feel very sorry for this little girl and her family.