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RE: NRC PROPOSES $6,000 FINE AGAINST ST. JOSEPH MERCY HOSPITAL IN MICHIGAN FOR OVEREXPOSURE TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
This brings up a question that students in my basic rad monitoring classes
often ask: what kind of dose does a patient typically receive from some of
these nuclear medicine treatments? It appears that this patient had a
significant amount of the isotope in his/her body. I'd love to have some
figures from the educated radsafe community. Anyone who can enlighten me
on the range of dose that a patient could receive from a procedure with
which they're familiar will be in my debt. Reply to me off line, if you
prefer. Thanks!
sincerely,
Peter Sandgren
Training Division
GIS Operations
Connecticut Office of Emergency Management
"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." --
Abraham Lincoln
The French writer Colette once said, "What a wonderful life I've had. I
only wish I had realized it sooner."
On Wednesday, May 14, 2003 7:53 AM, Sandy Perle
[SMTP:sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET] 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/
>
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