• Parkwest Surgery Center in Knoxville is facing lawsuits from former patients who developed Mycobacterium fortuitum infections after undergoing surgeries in 2023.
• The lawsuits allege the center was negligent in its care, failed to follow infectious disease protocols, and continued operating despite knowing about the infection problem.
• The surgery center changed management in spring 2024, and the new management claims that no new cases of infection have been reported since April 2024, and that the center is in full compliance with all regulations.

Parkwest Surgery Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, is at the center of a legal battle involving multiple lawsuits filed by former patients who contracted Mycobacterium fortuitum infections following surgeries performed in 2023. The lawsuits claim that the surgery center was negligent in its care, failed to adhere to national infectious disease practices and protocols, and continued to operate even when they knew they had an infection problem. The patients allege that the infections have led to significant health complications and financial burdens, with some facing the possibility of losing a limb. The surgery center has since changed management and claims to be in full compliance with all regulations.

• What: Lawsuits filed against Parkwest Surgery Center alleging negligence leading to Mycobacterium fortuitum infections in patients undergoing surgeries in 2023.
• Who: Key individuals include Mary-Beth Molitor, Rick Stimac, and Avis Lussier (patients); attorneys Doug Nichol, Robert E. Pryor Jr., and Chris Coffey; Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (current surgery center management); and doctors Conrad Ivie and J. Christopher Shaver.
• When: The infections occurred after surgeries performed between January and May 2023. Lawsuits were filed starting in 2024. The surgery center was put back in "substantial compliance" May 15, 2024.
• Where: Parkwest Surgery Center, located in West Knoxville, Tennessee. The legal proceedings are taking place in Knox County Circuit Court.

The lawsuits against Parkwest Surgery Center raise serious questions about patient safety and infection control practices within the facility. The allegations of negligence and failure to follow established protocols, if proven true, could have significant implications for the surgery center and the healthcare industry as a whole. The fact that multiple patients developed the same rare infection within a relatively short period suggests a systemic issue. The Vanderbilt doctors' report suggesting the contamination came from tainted water underscores the importance of rigorous quality control measures. The change in management and the implementation of new infection control measures indicate an effort to address the problems. However, the legal proceedings will likely continue to unfold to determine liability and responsibility for the patients' suffering.

"I think the realization is my quality of life will never be what I wanted it to be... I'll never be where it should be. I guess my goal is to adjust, and with my faith, I'm very fortunate and blessed in many ways, so I'll just take advantage of that."

"There was a systemic failure on the part of Parkwest Surgery Center that had been going on for quite a period of time."

"This is very much a public health issue that everybody should know about, and they should have been told about it. There should have been an announcement that this place is not safe and we're gonna stop doing surgeries until we get this figured out, and that wasn't done."

"Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance and our dedicated physicians are committed to treating every patient as we would a member of our own family and we value the trust placed in us as health care providers. We recognize the impact, distress and uncertainty this situation presents our patients and their families."

Parkwest Surgery Center is embroiled in legal battles stemming from infections contracted by patients in 2023. The lawsuits allege negligence and raise serious questions about the center's infection control practices. While the surgery center has undergone a change in management and implemented new measures to prevent future infections, the legal proceedings are ongoing and will determine the extent of liability and responsibility. The case underscores the importance of patient safety and rigorous adherence to infectious disease protocols in healthcare facilities. The future outlook depends on the outcome of the lawsuits and the effectiveness of the new management's efforts to restore public trust.