The following was received from
Pennsylvania via fax:
The licensee discovered the event on February 4, 2016, and notified the Department [PA Dept of Environmental Protection] after normal business hours on Friday, February 5, 2016. It is reportable per 10 CFR 30.50(b)(1)(i).
A 30 year old female patient was treated with 61.4 milliCuries of Iodine-131(I-131) for thyroid cancer and released, with proper discharge instructions, at noon on 02/03/16. The patient then returned to the emergency room (ER) at the same location at [1300 EST]. The patient did not disclose the previous I-131 treatment to ER staff until later that evening. The ER staff immediately contacted radiation safety personnel at 0100 on 02/04/16. The patient was then segregated and all access to the original room was controlled and posted properly. Surveys were taken and all linens and other potentially contaminated materials were collected for proper storage and decay. A radiation survey performed at 0930 on 02/04/16 estimated the potential maximum radiation exposure to staff to be 3 millirem.
Patient failed to follow the discharge instructions given.
A reactive inspection is planned by the Department. More information will be provided upon receipt.
Pennsylvania Event Report ID #: PA160006