Nevada is the latest state being sued for allegedly failing to provide proper treatment to inmates with chronic hepatitis C, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
A federal class-action lawsuit filed Oct. 27 alleges Nevada Department of Corrections inmates are not being provided anti-viral drugs used to treat and cure chronic hepatitis C, also called HCV.
The lawsuit names two inmates as plaintiffs but is designed to represent all Nevada inmates who have or maybe diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, according to attorney Scott Olifant.
According to the complaint, the two inmates have not received direct-acting antiviral medications for chronic hepatitis C. The disease can result in liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer or death if untreated.
Medication will cure more than 90 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C.
A Department of Corrections spokesman declined to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit