ML20151U583

PNO-77-043:on 770321,telephone Rept Received by NRC Security from Unidentified Male Re Woman Hospitalized for Massive Radiation Burns.Nrc Initiating Special Insp of St Marys Hosp to Obtain Info Re Hosp Co-60 Teletherapy Unit

ML20151U583
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/22/1977
From:	Gower G, Roy G, Thompson D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-77-043, PNO-77-43, NUDOCS 9809110056
Download: ML20151U583 (1)

Text

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PR25.IMINARYNOTIFICATIONOFEVENTORUNUSUALOCCURRENCE--PNO ""

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of an event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

Facility: St. Mary's Hospital and -

Henrico Doctors Hospital y Richmond, Virginia '

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Subj ect: REPORT OF RADIATION BURNS ASSOCIATED WITH TELETHERAPY l

On March 21, 1977, a telephone report was received by the NRC, Division '

of Security from an unidentified male that a named woman is hospitalized for " massive radiation burns" at the Henrico Doctors Hospital. The burns were reported to be the result of her doctor's (name not known) failure l to " properly adjust the machine." The caller said he is dating a nurse '

who informed him of the above situation. The caller said that the burns are not the result of any treatment at the Henrico Hospital; however, he stated that he believes that the hospital is treating the woman or the

" sly" with no intention of filing any report.

Since Henrico Hospital does not possess an NRC teletherapy licenaa. IE contacted the State of Virginia. The State then called the Henr.tco Hospital Administrator who confirmed that there is currently a woman j patient of that name at the hospital being treated for radiation burns.

The Adminstrator also stated that the woman had been treated with a i

t Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. -

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Patient reaction to teletherapy treatment, such as erythema (" radiation burn") is not uncommon and does not necessarily imply machine malfunction or misadministration. However, IE is initiating a special inspection at

Ste Mary's Hospital to obtain additional information related to the operation of the hospital's Co-60 teletherapy unit and to determine if further investigation is warranted.

'i Newsmedia interest could develop because of the nature of the occur-rence. A NRC press release is not planned at this time.

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Contact:

GCGover, IE x27261 GWRoy, IE x27261 DThompson, IE x27541 Distribution:

Chairman Rowden C. C. Kammerer, CA G. F. Murphy, JCAE Commissioner Gilir. sky S. J. Chilk, SECY H. H. Whiteside, SCNR

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L. V. Gossick, EDO K. R. Chapman, NMSS R. G. Ryan, OSP S. H. Hanauer, EDO E. Volgenau, OIE J. A. Harris, PA B. C. Rusche, NRR' H..K, Shapar, ELD T. J. McTiernan, CIA. U j j pff W. G. Mcdonald, MIPC b

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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION

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