Ionizing Radiation Exposure Linked to Glioblastoma
An Indiana surgeon recently filed a lawsuit, claiming an Indiana hospital failed to protect him and other healthcare workers from cancer-causing radiation exposure on the job.
The surgeon’s complaint blames occupational exposure
Ionizing Radiation Exposure Linked to Glioblastoma
An Indiana surgeon recently filed a lawsuit, claiming an Indiana hospital failed to protect him and other healthcare workers from cancer-causing radiation exposure on the job.
The surgeon’s complaint blames occupational exposure for his own thyroid cancer, as well as cancer in seven other individuals who worked at the same facility in the last several years. Five of those individuals have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer while the two others have died from brain cancer.
The lawsuits states that the general condition of the personal protective equipment provided to physicians and staff in the hospital was “decrepit.” It goes on to say the leaded skirts, jackets, aprons and thyroid shields were “filthy, tattered and torn.”
The complaint accuses hospital officials of ignoring complaints about the poor condition of personal protective equipment and alleges requests for improved equipment were also ignored.
Reportedly, there was routinely not enough protection available for all the doctors and staff to use, and there was no monitoring of radiation exposure procedures to make sure precautions were implemented. This complaint is from only one hospital, though healthcare facilities nationwide may also endanger their employees.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati, Ohio Lawyer who has represented individuals nationwide in personal injury claims. If you have been exposed to Ionizing Radiation, and have questions about your legal rights, please contact The Lyon Firm.
X-rays and Ionizing Radiation Exposure
The risk of cancer from ionizing radiation exposure increases as a person undergoes more and more X-ray exams and the accumulated radiation dose gets higher. This is why healthcare professionals who are surrounded by radiation for many years are at risk of glioblastoma and other cancers.
The cancer risk is higher for a person who received X-rays at a young age than for someone who received them at an older age. Women are at a higher risk than men for developing cancer from radiation after receiving the same exposures. There are additional risks of cataracts and skin burns associated with repeated or prolonged interventional fluoroscopy procedures.
Common examples of medical imaging tests include:
- X-rays (dental x-rays, chest x-rays, spine x-rays)
- CT or CAT scans
How Does Radiation Exposure Cause Cancer?
Ionizing radiation is a high-energy radiation, and may lead to dangerous radiation exposure in some occupational settings like hospitals. Ionizing radiation emits enough energy to cause brain cancer and other serious cancers with acute or chronic exposure.
Glioblastoma patients develop brain tumors after exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation directed at the body. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of central nervous system tumor that forms on the supportive tissue of the brain. Glioblastomas may appear in any area of the brain.
Ionizing radiation sources can be found in a range of work settings. Radiation sources pose a considerable health risk to healthcare workers if not prop