Radiation Overdoses and Regulatory Ineptness
When is a radiation overdose not an overdose? When the facility giving the CT scans says so. At least that's what the Food and Drug Administration concluded when it dropped a safety investigation of the Huntsville, Alabama Hospital.
Now the FDA, which monitors radiation safety for the medical industry, is considering re-starting its investigation, once a New York Times reporting team found that the doses of radiation given to patients at the Huntsville Hospital were 13 times the normal dose for this type of scan, called a CT brain perfusion scan. The scan is used to test patients for stroke.
Even a properly done CT brain perfusion scan delivers about 200 times more radiation to a patient's head than a skull X-ray.
According to the Times, the hospital claims it used higher doses to get sharper images.
A quotable quote from the article, the latest in a series about medical radiation overdoses:
“It is absolutely shocking and mind-boggling that this facility would say the doses are acceptable,” said Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a radiology professor who has testified before Congress about the need for more controls over CT scans.
People interested in learning more about our firm's legal services, including medical malpractice in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, may ask questions or send us information about a particular case by phone or email. There is no charge for contacting us regarding your inquiry. A malpractice attorney will respond within 24 hours.
All contents copyrighted 2010 Patrick Malone & Associates except where copyright held by others. Reproduction in any form prohibited except where expressly granted.
