Re: Here's what happens when you don't know which end is up!

[BLHamrick@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/31/99 8:30:51 AM Pacific Standard Time,
stephane_jeanfrancois@merck.com writes:

<< Who takes care of the "over-exposure" (I can't find another word for that
 if, for exemple, the WRONG patient is being exposed to, let say, gamma
 therapy) issue in the US?
 
 NRC or the State or the Professional Order of ________ (fill the blank with
 adequate profession) >>

The regulations governing the use of radioactive materials in NRC and
Agreement States require a report of a "misadministration" which is how this
incident would be classified if it weren't for the fact that it was a linear
accelerator, and therefore regulated by State Law only...which, obviously
varies from state to state.

Even had it been a radioactive materials misadministration, however, there is
no fine or penalty for the misadministration itself....It is likely that
certain licensed procedures and possibly other regulations were violated, so a
citation might be produced in that way, and even fines imposed if the failings
were sufficiently egregious.

Typically, however, my guess is the real impetus for caution and avoidance of
the incidence is the civil lawsuit by the patient or family which inevitably
follows.

Barbara H.
My worldview only..of course...
BLHamrick@aol.com
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