FDA: Cedars-Sinai hospital exposed 206 patients to radiation during CT scans
By APFriday, October 9, 2009
FDA: High radiation doses at Cedars-Sinai hospital
LOS ANGELES — The FDA has warned hospitals across the country about exposing patients to high doses of radiation during CT brain scans, following an investigation of errors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Hospital officials told the Los Angeles Times Friday that 206 patients got eight times the regular dose of radiation during scans used to diagnose strokes.
The hospital says they found out about the overdoses in August when a patient reported hair loss after a scan. The problem went undetected for 18 months and other patients were also affected.
Officials determined the machine had been set to a higher level since February 2008.
The FDA issued an alert, warning hospitals nationwide to review their safety procedures, but federal officials did not name Cedars-Sinai.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com
