Programming Error Results In Radiation Overdoses
In attempt to get better data, a hospital overrode default protocol on a CT scanner over a year ago. Now they’ve realised that they made a little mistake and have been giving people eight times the acceptable doses of radiation.
The issue only affected the scans of stroke patients so damage was limited to affecting about 200 individuals over the course of the 18 months during which the error in programming went unnoticed. While those patients are experiencing symptoms of radiation poisoning, such as hair loss, there’s at least good news in that the FDA has finally issued alerts to hospitals to read the freakin’ manuals before fiddling with their equipment. [LA Times via Slashdot]
Photo by Akira Ohgaki
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Eh, telling them to read the manuals won’t work. Do you know how stressed that statement is in work safe practices? “Read the manual if you’re unsure!”
Yeah… sure thing!
These people should just be punished for their actions, to set a real example! There was no need for these poor patients to be put in an even more severe condition than they already were!
Sounds like a flash back to the Therac-25.