NRC PROPOSES $6,000 FINE AGAINST ST. JOSEPH MERCY HOSPITAL IN MICHIGAN FOR OVEREXPOSURE TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $6,000 fine 

against St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a 

radiation exposure in excess of NRC limits for a member of the 

public. The excessive radiation exposure involved a family member who 

had prolonged contact with a patient receiving a nuclear medicine 

treatment in July of last year.  



A patient at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital received a therapeutic dose of 

radioactive iodine-131 on July 1 of last year. The patient’s 

condition subsequently worsened , and she died on July 7. There is no 

indication that her death was associated with the iodine-131 

treatment. 



Members of the patient’s family who visited during the treatment 

period of July 1 to 7 were in prolonged, close contact with the 

patient.



The hospital staff provided shielding around the patient to reduce 

radiation levels and counseled family members on the need to minimize 

their time and proximity to the patient. Family members, who wanted 

to maintain close contact with the patient, disregarded the radiation 

safety instructions provided by the staff. 



One family member, who spent the longest period of time in close 

contact with the patient, received a total dose of 3,000 to 15,000 

millirem (A millirem is a standard measure of radiation dose), which 

exceeds the NRC limit of 100 millirem per year. Other members of the 

family may have received significantly lower doses. 



The NRC conducted a special inspection to review the circumstances 

and causes regarding exposures to members of the public which 

exceeded the NRC limits, as well as the hospital’s corrective 

actions. Although the NRC determined that radiation exposures within 

the reported range would not cause any significant health effects, 

the NRC inspectors found violations of NRC requirements to limit 

radiation doses to members of the public, and promptly identify and 

implement corrective actions.



In the letter to the hospital, NRC Region III Regional Administrator 

James Dyer states, “The NRC staff understands that the case involved 

unusual circumstances and that you did not want to appear 

uncompassionate toward the patient or her family.” However, the 

hospital could have taken more proactive steps to determine the 

visitors’ doses more accurately and to limit their exposure, he says. 

The letter also notes that the hospital has taken appropriate 

corrective actions to prevent recurrence of violations.



The hospital has until June 6 to either pay the fine or to protest 

it. If the fine is protested and subsequently imposed by the NRC 

staff, the company may request a hearing. 



The letter notifying St. Joseph Mercy Hospital of the proposed fine 

has been posted to the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-

rm/doc-collections/enforcement/actions/.



-------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle

Director, Technical

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626



Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100  Extension 2306

Fax:(714) 668-3149



E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com



Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/



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