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In 2010, prompted by an inconclusive investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, the NY Times set out to do an examination of radiation overdose as a result of the CT brain perfusion scan. The Times review unearthed that overdoses were occurring at an alarming rate. Not only that, but they were larger and more widespread than ever before realized. The review also revealed details as to exactly how and why such overdoses occur, and why victims should consult a medical malpractice lawyer.
The Times attributed some overdoses to the fact that technicians didn’t have sufficient training to administer the scan properly. In these cases, hospitals and manufacturers were at fault for failing to provide proper training. Of course, one must consider flaws in software and equipment design as well. One hospital in particular had the biggest overdoses of radiation—up to 13 times the amount of radiation necessary. However, hospital officials claimed such levels were used intentionally for the sake of clearer images. Even when the scan is performed properly, it delivers a large dose of radiation (equivalent to 200 x-rays). So, the practice of exceeding that amount is unjustified, dangerous, and constitutes medical malpractice. This is a clear case of medical malpractice.
Patients who receive overdoses of radiation from the CT brain perfusion scan can experience:
High doses of radiation also predispose patients to an increased risk of brain damage and cancer.
If this review is indicative of use around the nation, as states look more closely at this practice, the discovery of radiation overdose will likely be on the rise. And who’s ultimately responsible? The tech? The hospital? The manufacturer? While one major manufacturer says that the dose of radiation is at the discretion of the end user, hospitals point to another major manufacturer and say that their recommend dose is too much.
If you have had a CT brain perfusion scan and live in the Bronx, and have any of these symptoms, consult a Bronx medical malpractice lawyer to sort out the facts and determine who’s responsible for the overdose. Contact us if you have been harmed and believe someone should be held accountable. Email or call (800) 762-9300 for a free consultation. You can also simply fill out one of our case intake forms and we will have one of our attorneys get right back to you.
The proven, aggressive personal injury and Bronx medical malpractice lawyers of Macaluso & Fafinski, P.C. represent clients throughout the five boroughs of New York City: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, NY.
