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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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