“Santa Clara County Hospitals Caught Illegally Dumping Biohazardous Waste: Prescription Drugs, Human Tissue, and More”
Santa Clara County hospitals have come under fire for illegally dumping tons of biohazardous waste, including prescription drugs, human tissue, and vials containing blood, according to county prosecutors. The shocking discovery was made after district attorney investigators intercepted eight deliveries of garbage compactors from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital.
The investigation revealed that each garbage compactor, which holds about four tons, was contaminated with medical and hazardous waste. Disturbing photos showed piles of trash with soiled towels, used syringes, unemptied prescription vials, over-the-counter drugs like fentanyl, and even what appeared to be a discarded umbilical cord or part of a human organ. Additionally, hundreds of documents containing unredacted personal patient information were found among the waste.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the importance of holding the county hospitals accountable for their actions, stating, “The public needs to know what happened, and the County will not get a free pass when it comes to environmental protection and consumer privacy laws.” Civil penalties for improper dumping could result in fines up to $70,000 per disposal of hazardous waste and up to $10,000 per disposal of medical waste.
The Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system, the second-largest county-run health system in California, has pledged to address the issue and prevent future occurrences. In a statement, the hospital system expressed its commitment to adopting industry best practices, updating policies, implementing an audit review process, and designating department liaisons to facilitate necessary changes.
The district attorney’s office decided to launch an investigation into the county hospitals after a $49-million settlement with Kaiser Permanente in September 2023 for similar violations. While it is unclear how long the hospitals had been illegally dumping materials, the behavior was consistent between inspections, according to supervising deputy district attorney Bud Porter.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring the proper disposal of medical and hazardous waste to protect public health and uphold environmental regulations. The Santa Clara County hospitals must now work diligently to rectify their actions and prevent future incidents of illegal dumping.