Countywide
Two North County hospitals announced settlement of a lawsuit with the county Wednesday over illegal disposal of infectious wastes into the San Marcos landfill.
As part of the settlement, Palomar and Tri-City medical centers will conduct workshops and seminars and develop a comprehensive manual on the handling of infectious wastes.
The county health department cited each of the hospitals in December, 1988, for dumping infectious wastes such as syringes, needles and liquid blood.
“Any time infectious waste gets out, it’s a serious matter,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony Lovett.
But he added that “it was an isolated incident as opposed to a series of incidences, and it didn’t appear to be intentional.”
Normally, a hospital would separate infectious wastes and have them sterilized before being sent to a landfill.
The hospitals must pay $17,000 in investigation costs as part of the settlement.
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