Letters and Statements

November 1, 2006 Update

The following brief update is being posted in keeping with Duke Medicine's ongoing commitment to patient safety and to keep the public informed by providing periodic updates to this Web site.

November 1, 2006 Update

Statement issued July 13, 2006

This statement was issued to reporters who requested comment from Duke University Health System regarding the lawsuit filed against Duke in Durham Superior Court on July 13, 2006.

Statement on July 13, 2006
[11 KB PDF file]

Public statement September 21, 2005

On September 21, plaintiffs’ attorneys released results of an analysis they had had conducted on the bulk hydraulic fluid. Duke released the following statement the same day, clarifying that patients were not exposed to bulk hydraulic fluid, but to any residual material left on the surgical instruments after they had been washed, rinsed, and sterilized in a multi-step process.

Statement on Analysis Report Sept. 21, 2005
[10 KB PDF file]

Patient letter August 3, 2005

A letter to patients from Dr. Michael Cuffe, vice president for medical affairs at Duke University Health System. The letter assures patients of Duke's ongoing commitment to provide information and resources regarding issues related to the hydraulic fluid incident, provides answers to frequently asked questions, and informs patients of how they can access future updates.

Patient Letter August 3, 2005
[67 KB PDF file]

Duke Health Raleigh Hospital patient letter June 27, 2005 - Revised
(Note: A similar letter was sent to Durham Regional Hospital patients)

A letter to patients from Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System, and James Knight, CEO of Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. The letter shares the findings of a second external study done by scientists at RTI International in Research Triangle Park. RTI conducted an analysis to determine how much hydraulic fluid remained on surgical instruments after they had been rinsed in very hot water and then sterilized, as was the case in the incident at Duke Health Raleigh Hospital and Durham Regional Hospital. Their report concluded that the residual amount of fluid on the instruments tested was very small, approximately 0.08 milligrams per instrument, on average. The researchers also tested for the presence of contamination by 11 metals. With the exception of zinc, which is in one of the additives in the original fluid and present at the expected low level, the majority of the metals were not detectable and a few were barely detectable using sophisticated testing equipment. (Note: This letter, a revision of the original patient letter dated 6/27, was sent to those patients who missed the first mailing [due to returned mail, etc].)

DHRH Patient Letter June 27, 2005 - Revised
[21 KB PDF file]

Duke Health Raleigh Hospital patient letter June 27, 2005

A letter to patients from Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System, and James Knight, CEO of Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. The letter shares the findings of a second external study done by scientists at RTI International in Research Triangle Park. RTI conducted an analysis to determine how much hydraulic fluid remained on surgical instruments after they had been rinsed in very hot water and then sterilized, as was the case in the incident at Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. Their report concluded that the residual amount of fluid on the instruments tested was very small, approximately 0.08 milligrams per instrument, on average. The researchers also tested for the presence of contamination by 11 metals. With the exception of zinc, which is in one of the additives in the original fluid and present at the expected low level, the majority of the metals were not detectable and a few were barely detectable using sophisticated testing equipment.

DHRH Patient Letter June 27, 2005
[21 KB PDF file]

Durham Regional Hospital patient letter June 27, 2005

A letter to patients from Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System, and David McQuaid, CEO of Durham Regional Hospital. The letter shares the findings of a second external study done by scientists at RTI International in Research Triangle Park. RTI conducted an analysis to determine how much hydraulic fluid remained on surgical instruments after they had been rinsed in very hot water and then sterilized, as was the case in the incident at Durham Regional Hospital. Their report concluded that the residual amount of fluid on the instruments tested was very small, approximately 0.08 milligrams per instrument, on average. The researchers also tested for the presence of contamination by 11 metals. With the exception of zinc, which is in one of the additives in the original fluid and present at the expected low level, the majority of the metals were not detectable and a few were barely detectable using sophisticated testing equipment.

DRH Patient Letter June 27, 2005
[22 KB PDF file]

Duke Health Raleigh Hospital patient letter June 20, 2005

A letter to patients from Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System, and James Knight, CEO of Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. The letter shares information from the final report of Professor William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, director of the Statewide Program in Infection Control and Epidemiology at the UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Rutala and his team of scientists investigated whether hydraulic fluid applied to surgical instruments made the sterilization process less effective. Dr. Rutala and his team recreated the situation and concluded the sterilization of the instruments was fully effective.

DHRH Patient Letter June 20, 2005
[20 KB PDF file]

Durham Regional Hospital patient letter June 20, 2005

A letter to patients from Dr. Victor Dzau president and CEO of Duke University Health System, and David McQuaid, CEO of Durham Regional Hospital. The letter shares information from the final report of Professor William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, director of the Statewide Program in Infection Control and Epidemiology at the UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Rutala and his team of scientists investigated whether hydraulic fluid applied to surgical instruments made the sterilization process less effective. Dr. Rutala and his team recreated the situation and concluded the sterilization of the instruments was fully effective.

DRH Patient Letter June 20, 2005
[24 KB PDF file]

Dzau memo June 15, 2005

A memorandum to the Duke Medicine community from Dr. Victor Dzau, president and CEO of Duke University Health System about the incident in fall 2004 in which surgical tools at two Duke-affiliated hospitals were accidentally washed with hydraulic fluid prior to being sterilized. A modified version of this memorandum was sent to all of the patients who were operated on during November and December 2004 at Durham Regional and Duke Health Raleigh Hospitals.

Dzau Memo June 15, 2005
[20 KB PDF file]

Duke Health Raleigh Hospital patient letter January 4, 2005

A letter to patients from James Knight, CEO of Duke Health Raleigh Hospital. The letter informs patients of the problem identified in the cleaning process of surgical instruments and asks them to contact the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer with questions and concerns.

DHRH Patient Letter January 4, 2005
[12 KB PDF file]

Durham Regional Hospital patient letter January 4, 2005

A letter to patients from David McQuaid, CEO of Durham Regional Hospital. The letter informs patients of the problem identified in the cleaning process of surgical instruments and asks them to contact the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer with questions and concerns.

DRH Patient Letter January 4, 2005
[11 KB PDF file]