Las Vegas NowLicense Suspended at Fifth Medical Clinic

License Suspended at Fifth Medical Clinic

Henderson city officials suspended the business license of Gastroenterology Center of Nevada Tuesday, making it the fifth medical center to be closed.

This closure follows a widening concern about practices at some clinics that may have resulted in patients being exposed to hepatitis.

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Clark County officials also pulled the business licenses Monday of three clinics affiliated with and managed by the owners of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, the clinic at the center of the investigation. Their license was pulled the previous week.

The following centers are now closed:

• Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, 700 Shadow Lane
• Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center, 4275 S. Burnham
• Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, 4275 S. Burnham 
• Spanish Hills Surgical Center, 5915 S. Rainbow Blvd.
• Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, 2610 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway

Henderson officials say they issued the license suspension due to concerns that a public health emergency exists. They also say that the clinic would not provide access to a Business License Officer during normal business hours.

"Because this business is owned and operated by the same people who own facilities throughout Clark County that are currently closed and under investigation, we will be interested in not only our location but the business practices and suitability of all establishments owned by this group before we allow them to operate in Henderson," said Henderson Mayor James Gibson.

The clinics are owned by Dr. Dipak Desai.

The Southern Nevada Health District is advising patients who received anesthesia medication at the Endoscopy Center of Nevada between March 2004 to Jan. 11, 2008 to contact their doctors and be tested for hepatitis and HIV.