Latest News 2009 December 270 Overexposed to Radiation in Alabama and Los Angeles Hospitals

270 Overexposed to Radiation in Alabama and Los Angeles Hospitals


Recently, one hospital in Alabama and three hospitals in Los Angeles, California have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-exposing 270 patients to radiation through CT scans. 

After reports were made, the FDA launched investigations in a series of cases in which 270 patients claimed that they were subjected to excessive amounts of radiation during CT brain perfusion scan procedures in L.A. and Alabama.

In October, the issue surfaced after it was discovered that 206 patients over an 18 month period were exposed to 8 times the normal amount of radiation normally used during CT scans.  The incidents occurred at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

At Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California, it was reported that over a period 10 months, 10 patients were exposed to 4 times the normal amount of radiation.   During that time, a 59 year old woman in Alabama came forward after she noticed a bald strip on her head a few days after she received a CT scan.  The woman reviewed her medical records and found that she had been exposed to a higher amount of radiation than other patients at Cedars Sinai. 

When patients have been exposed to higher amounts of radiation, they may develop symptoms such as hair loss and redness on their skin after procedures. 

At this time, the FDA is continuing investigations in conjunction with the state and local health authorities to determine how and why patients were subjected to such high amounts of radiation.  The FDA also released literature to help hospitals prevent over-exposure and medical errors.

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Categories: Hospital Error