Final answer:
In this scenario, a healthcare worker stole syringes of painkillers and replaced them with syringes filled with unknown substances, leading to two patients testing positive for HIV. The hospital immediately took action by firing the employee and had him arrested. To minimize their liability, the public health office conducted interviews and tests with a sample of patients to detect and treat potential victims of the crime.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this scenario, a healthcare worker stole syringes of painkillers and replaced them with syringes filled with unknown substances. As a result, two patients later tested positive for HIV. The hospital immediately fired the employee and had him arrested. The hospital's insurance will fully cover the HIV-positive patient's treatment, although a direct connection to the compromised syringes cannot be proven or disproven.
To minimize the hospital's liability, the public health office decided to conduct interviews with a randomly selected sample of patients and test them for HIV. This proactive measure aims to detect potential victims of the employee's crime early and provide prompt treatment to slow the progression of the disease.