Press Release-I-01-010, NRC to Discuss Apparent Violation at Washington, D.C., Hospital

Press Release-I-01-010: NRC to Discuss Apparent Violation at Washington, D.C., Hospital

ML010750020
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/27/2001
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-I-01-010
Download: ML010750020 (1)

Text

NRCNEWSU.S.NUCLEARREGULATORYCOMMISSIONOFFICEOFPUBLICAFFAIRS,REGIONI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19406No.I-01-010February27,2001CONTACT:DianeScrenci,(610)337-5330/e-mail:dps@nrc.govNeilA.Sheehan,(610)337-5331/e-mail:nas@nrc.govNRCTODISCUSSAPPARENTVIOLATIONATWASHINGTON,D.C.,HOSPITALNuclearRegulatoryCommissionstaffwillmeetwithrepresentativesofaWashington,D.C.,medicalfacilityonMonday,March5,todiscussanapparentviolationofagencyrequirementsinvolving thehospital'sradiationoncologyprogram.ThepredecisionalenforcementconferencewithGeorgeWashingtonUniversityHospitalisscheduledtobeginat1p.m.inthePublicMeetingRoomattheNRCRegionIoffice,475Allendale Road,KingofPrussia,Pa.Themeetingwillbeopentothepublic.LastJuly,theNRCconductedasafetyinspectionatthehospital,locatedon23 rdStreet,N.W.,toreviewamedicalmisadministrationtoonepatientthatoccurredonJune15,2000.Duringthatevent,a patientunderwentacancertreatmentthatutilizedradioactivecesium-137brachytherapysources.

However,becausethesourcesbeingusedshiftedduringtreatment,thepatientreceivedalesserdose thanprescribedtothecanceroustissueandahigherdosethanprescribedtosurroundingtissues.A medicalconsultantcontractedbytheNRCtoreviewtheincidentindicatedthepatientwasexperiencing medicalcomplicationsthatmaybeattributabletothemisadministration.Basedontheinspection,theNRChaspreliminarilydeterminedthatthehospital'squalitymanagementprogramfailedtoincludeawrittenproceduretomeettheobjectivethateach administrationofnuclearmedicinebeinaccordancewithawrittendirective.ThedecisiontoholdapredecisionalenforcementconferencedoesnotmeanthattheNRChasdeterminedaviolationhasoccurredorthatenforcementactionwillbetaken.Rather,thepurposeisto discusstheapparentviolation,itscausesandsafetysignificance;toprovidethelicenseewithan opportunitytopointoutanyerrorsthatmayhavebeenmadeintheNRCinspectionreport;andto enablethelicenseetooutlineitsproposedcorrectiveaction.Nodecisionontheapparentviolationwillbemadeatthisconference.ThatdecisionwillbemadebyNRCofficialsatalatertime.