July 28th is World Hepatitis Day

Andrew Wise was adopted from Korea and tested for hepatitis B as a child. His results were misinterpreted, and he was believed to be negative. Years later, at just 24, he was diagnosed with stage IV liver cancer caused by undetected chronic hepatitis B. His family had taken every precaution — vaccinations, regular checkups — but a single oversight in interpreting his test results cost him his life.

His mother later discovered that both Andrew and his biological sister had likely been infected at birth. The tragedy? This was preventable. With proper screening, monitoring, and understanding of hepatitis B serology, Andrew could have received early intervention and possibly life-saving treatment.

Why This Matters for NPs

• Hepatitis B is often silent until advanced liver disease develops
• Misinterpreted labs can delay diagnosis and treatment
• Routine screening and vaccination are critical, especially in high-risk populations
• NPs can lead the charge in education, prevention, and compassionate care

Let Andrew’s story be a reminder: every test result deserves a second look, and every patient deserves a chance at prevention.

#WorldHepatitisDay #NPsLead #ScreenEducateAdvocate #PreventableTragedy

Reference

VaccineInformation.org.