FDA Orders National Review of Hospital Scanners
Patients not only have their health to worry about, but they also have to concern themselves with the medical devices that are used to diagnose and treat their ailments. According to an Latimes.com report, the well publicized CT Scan malfunction which resulted in accidental radiation overdosing to patients could be a national dilemma.The FDA found that a 3rd L.A area hospital, Providence St. Joseph, has overdosed 34 patients over a 20 month interval. The patients, who had gone to the hospital to have a brain scan performed, were found to have been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.
The CT Scan, which scans those who have suffered a stroke, aids hospital officials in determining how much damage has been done to the brain. Another issue that raises concerns for FDA officials and the public is that the problem with the first two hospitals involved scanners from GE, but the scanner in the third hospital is manufactured by Toshiba. A doctor who is the acting director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said, “Given the fact that we are dealing with two manufacturers and multiple institutions, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are more problems at other institutions”.
Hospitals throughout the country have been directed by the FDA to review radiation dosing guidelines when a CT perfusion scan will be performed. This means that CT technologists must be trained to check the display on the scanner prior to the scan. According to the FDA, an estimated 150,000 CT brain perfusion scans are carried out yearly throughout the country. It is of the utmost importance for all the machines to be checked properly and hospital personnel must be accurately trained to operate them as soon as possible. The FDA is continuing their investigation as to whether the overdoses are a result of human error, defective machines, or both.
Each day, thousands of people see doctors, check into hospitals or rush to the emergency room for treatment for various ailments and illnesses. This story clearly shows that all too often, we take for granted the adequate standard of care given by those in the medical field. But what about the thousands of people who encounter medical professionals who don’t live up to even the lowest of standards? These individuals are victims of medical negligence also known as medical malpractice.
If you or someone you love feel that you have been treated wrongly by a medical doctor, hospital, or someone in the medical field, contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano, LLP. They have the knowledge and experience in PA personal injury litigation that you need to be successful with your medical malpractice claim. Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano’s personal injury lawyers have dealt with medical malpractice cases and can look at the basic information and determine whether or not you have grounds to file a claim against a doctor, medical team, pharmacist, or hospital for medical malpractice. Call 888-684-7192 today for a free consultation.
Source article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ctscan8-2009dec08,0,406924.story
