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Re: Powernet: NRC PROPOSES $6,000 FINE AGAINST ST. JOSEPH MERCYHOSPITALIN MICHIGAN FOR OVEREXPOSURE TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC



Thanx for posting this.



For all of you hospital hp's this should be a "heads up."  It seems that

the hospital RSO took the fall on this one.



Remember that there are 2 ways of learning:  (1) the easy way, i.e., it

happens to someone else; and (2) the hard way, i.e., it happens to you.



The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Curies forever.



Bill Lipton

liptonw@dteenergy.com



Sandy Perle wrote:



> 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/

>

> -----------------------------------

> Reply to: powernet@hps1.org

> If Questions, contact Mike Russell, CHP at russelmj@songs.sce.com







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