Deceased Patients Containing Radioactive Material

[Kent Lambert <lambert@allegheny.edu>]

To RADSAFE Medical HP types:

I know this topic has been addressed before on RADSAFE (in March, 1996), but 
I want to add a new twist.  The previous thread generally considered the 
expiration of a patient that had a therapeutic administration of a 
radiopharmaceutical.

Here is my question:  Doesn't the same considerations apply to DIAGNOSTIC 
administrations of various isotopes (e.g., Tc99m)?  When is the patient 
"released"?  When is the radioactive material no longer "licensed material"? 

Let's say a patient is undergoing a bone scan.  Normally, they are injected, 
then return for imaging several hours later.  How is the possession and the 
LEGAL responsibility affected if the patient dies:

A)   in the injection room?
2)   at lunch in the hospital cafeteria?
III) at lunch in a nearby restaurant?
d)   during imaging after returning to the hospital?

What mechanism is available to turn the body (and the radioactive material) 
over to the family, funeral home, pathologist, or other unlicensed entity?  
Disposal doesn't apply, 35.75 release doesn't apply, and 30.41 doesn't apply 
except perhaps 30.41(b)(7) but then how long will it take to get written 
authorization from the regional NRC office?  And, NO, the answer is not to 
store the body for 10 half-lives.   

This has to happen regularly, so there should be some authorative (or at 
least quasi-authorative) paper on the matter.
-- 
Kent Lambert, CHP
lambert@allegheny.edu

Then again, I could be wrong.