Kristen Parker’s 30-year sentence for exposing nearly 6,000 people to hepatitis C wasn’t enough closure for one infected patient — Lauren Lollini.
On Sunday, Lollini joined state representatives outside the Capitol to announce legislation aimed at preventing another such incident.
Reps. Sara Gagliardi and Debbie Benefield, both Arvada Democrats, announced two bills they plan to introduce this week with the goal of closing the gaps that prolonged the investigation into Parker’s case.
“I think it’s a good next step,” Lollini said. “It will help with making sure workers are qualified to do their job.”
The first bill will require reports of problems with employees filed to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to include a name.
When Rose Medical Center filed a report to the health department after firing Parker for drug diversion, the report did not name her.
At the same time, another branch of the health department was already beginning to investigate the hepatitis cases linked to the hospital but did not find the link to Parker until months later.
Benefield said she hopes the bill will help pinpoint the roots of the problem sooner in future cases.
The second bill would create a state registry for surgical technologists and make it a requirement for all surgical techs to be registered so that records about work history are available for any employer to look at before hiring.
The bill would not make it a requirement for employers to use the registry.
“It will make it easier to ask the questions so they can look at past employment,” Lollini said.
“Luckily, I have the energy still to be out here speaking out for myself and other victims,” she said.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1638 or yrobles@denverpost.com
