Hepatitis C exposureโข Linked to Florida doctor’s โฃOffice, License Suspended
MELBOURNE, โขFL – Patients who received treatment at a Melbourne, โคFlorida medical โฃofficeโ between June 2023 and March โข2025โ may have been exposed to hepatitis Cโฃ dueโข to “unsafe infection control โคpractices,” the Florida Department of Health has revealed.โ At least three patients contracted the virus followingโฃ treatments at the officeโฃ of Dr. Sharon Voepel, leading to a temporary suspension โof โฃthe office’s surgical registration license andโ a $20,000 penaltyโ for the physician.
The Department ofโค Health first alerted the public to the potential exposure in April, urging individuals who visited the office during the specified timeframe to โคseek immediate testing for the bloodborne viral โdisease. Hepatitisโ C can lead to chronic infection, liver damage, cirrhosis,โ and an increased risk of liver โcancer if left untreated, โขtho antiviral therapies โnow offer a near-certain cure.
An โinvestigation following the publicโ notification uncovered “several deficiencies in the facility’sโ hygiene and sterilization procedures,” according to an administrative complaint filed โฃagainst Dr. Voepel. Inspectors found expired drugs and defibrillator pads,outdated manuals,and a lack โof a formal risk management program. Critically,the office lacked adequate sterilization equipment,including a functioning handwashingโ station capable โof properly sterilizingโฃ surgeons’ hands before procedures.
Further, the โฃoffice was found to beโค improperly advertising itself as a pain-management โคclinic without being correctly registered with the health department.
Consequently of โคthe investigation, Dr. Voepel’s surgery registration license has been suspended for โขsix months, beginning October 15th. She is also required to pay a $2,000โฃ fine and $18,000 to cover the Department of Health’s investigative โคcosts. โ
Dr. Voepel will also be mandated toโค complete continuingโ education coursesโ in infectionโค control, risk management, โand ethics, and must submit a written plan โdetailing how her โoffice will achieve compliance with health regulations moving forward.
