View source for Press Release-I-97-039, NRC Staff Cites Washington Hospital Center for Alleged Violations, Proposes $5,000 Fine

{{Adams
| number = ML003707233
| issue date = 04/11/1997
| title = Press Release-I-97-039 NRC Staff Cites Washington Hospital Center for Alleged Violations, Proposes $5,000 Fine
| author name = 
| author affiliation = NRC/OPA/RGN-I/FO
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = Press Release-I-97-039
| document type = Press Release
| page count = 2
| newsletter region = NRC Region I
| newsletter year = 2097
| newsletter integer = 39
}}

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{{#Wiki_filter:UnitedStatesNuclearRegulatoryCommissionOfficeofPublicAffairs,RegionI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19401Phone:610/337-5330Fax:610/337-5241Internet:dps@nrc.govornas@nrc.govI-97-39April11,1997Contact:DianeScrenciFORIMMEDIATERELEASENeilA.SheehanNRCSTAFFCITESWASHINGTONHOSPITALCENTERFORALLEGEDVIOLATIONS,PROPOSES$5,000FINETheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionstaffhasproposeda$5,000civilpenaltyagainstWashingtonHospitalCenterin Washington,D.C.,forfiveallegedviolationsofagency requirementsinitsuseofradioactivematerialsformedical

services.TheerrorswerefoundduringanNRCinspectionconductedSeptember17through26oflastyearandasubsequent investigationbytheNRCOfficeofInvestigations.Twooftheallegedviolationsinvolvemultipleinstancesoffailuretoperformrequiredthyroidbioassays,orexposure measurements,onemployees,aswellasafailuretoprovide adequatetraininginthisarea.Theotherthreeviolations pertaintothelossofaniodine-125seed;failuretoperforman adequatesurveyinanattempttorecoverthemissingmaterial; andfailuretonotifytheNRCofthelossofthematerial.Inthecaseofthebioassayviolations,theNRCdeterminedanumberofhospitalstaffersfailedtomeasuretheirthyroid exposurewithin72hoursofadministrationofiodine-131to patients,eventhoughthefacility'sradiationsafetyofficer (RSO)remindedthemtodoso.Moreimportantly,theRSOand RadiationSafetyCommitteechairmanwereawareoftheproblembut apparentlyfailedtorecognizeitssignificance;didnotraise theissueinacommitteemeetingortouppermanagement;anddid nottakeeffectivecorrectiveactiontopreventarecurrence.
Theperformanceofbioassaysisimportantbecauseindividuals involvedinthepreparationandadministrationofiodine-131 dosescanreceiveasignificantuptakeoftheradioactive material.Minusabioassay,anyunsafelevelsofexposurecould goundetected."Collectively,thetwoviolationsareofsignificantregulatoryconcernbecausetheyareindicativeofalackof managementattentiontowardslicensedresponsibilities,"Region1 AdministratorHubertJ.MillerwrotetoWashingtonHospital

Center.
Regardingtheiodine-125seed,theNRChasexpressedconcernaboutthepotentialsafetyconsequencesofthelossoflicensed material.Theseedthatcouldhavedeliveredasignificant radiationdoseifithadcomeintocontactwithanindividual's skin.What'smore,theNRChasexpressedconcernthat,duetoan apparentlackofunderstandingoftherequirements,thelossof theseedhadnotbeenreportedtotheagencyasofJanuary31, evenaftertheNRCinformedthehospitalithadtobereported.Thehospitalhas30daystopaytheproposedfineorrequestinwritingthatallorpartofthepenaltybewithdrawn.
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