Cedars-Sinai finds more patients exposed to excess radiation

Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2009

Officials at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said that 260 patients had been exposed to high doses of radiation during CT brain scans during an 18-month period, up from the hospital's original estimate of 206 in September. A review by the hospital also found that about 20% of the patients received exposure directly to the lenses of their eyes, which puts them at a higher risk for cataracts, said a spokeswoman for the hospital. Of the newly identified cases, 47 patients had died by the time the hospital began contacting victims. This was a reflection, officials said, of their serious illnesses, not the radiation exposure. Seven more patients were identified as a result of the ongoing investigation.