Full Article at: NRC fines Phila. VA $227,500 over prostate care
By Josh Goldstein
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Philadelphia VA Medical Center was hit with a $227,500 fine by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday for poor care in a prostate cancer program that resulted in 97 veterans getting incorrect doses of radiation.
The fine levied against the Department of Veterans Affairs was the second largest ever by the NRC against a medical facility. The VA has 30 days to contest the fine.
"The VA Philadelphia had a total breakdown in management oversight, a total breakdown in the program, and a total breakdown in safety culture that resulted in these egregious failures," said Steve Reynolds, director of the division of nuclear material safety for NRC Region III, which oversees the Veterans Health Administration.
The largest NRC fine was $280,000 in 1996 against the owners of hospitals in Indiana, Pa., and Marlton. That case involved the death of a patient.
"Fortunately nobody died here," Reynolds said.
At least not yet."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment