The Department of Environmental Protection has fined the Mount Nittany Medical Center $17,500 for violating state radiation protection regulations that are designed and enforced to protect the public’s health and safety. “These state regulations are in place to ensure that medical facilities follow proper procedures and take the appropriate steps to safeguard its employees and members of the public it serves,” said DEP Southcentral Regional Director Rusty Diamond.
Diamond said the violations occurred during a 12-month period and included radiation therapists inadvertently delivering a dose of radiation to the wrong patient and, on two occasions, to incorrect parts of patients’ bodies. Contract employees performing work on the roof of the center may also have been exposed to radiation levels greater than public dose limits.
The medical center, located in State College, paid its fines earlier this month and has taken corrective action. The center is in the process of hiring an additional management position to provide more oversight of the radiation therapists in the oncology department. DEP will continue to monitor the corrective actions and will increase the frequency of inspections to ensure no further radiological health and safety. If you believe that you were inadvertently delivered a dose of radiation, or delivered radiation to the wrong part of your body, or improperly exposed to doses of radiation, contact the Levensten Law Firm to protect your rights.
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