A class action lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama against G.E. Healthcare, Inc. The suit claims that G.E. caused the plaintiff, Becky Coudert, and similarly situated persons to receive excessive doses of radiation as a result of brain scans via G.E.'s Computed Tomography (CAT or CT) scan machines. According to the complaint, the scans caused "immediate physical injuries and latent injuries and have resulted in a need for medical monitoring to check for brain cancer or other serious conditions which may develop as a result."

The complaint refers to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alert to the medical professionals in October of this year regarding radiation overexposures during perfusion CT imaging to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke. According to the FDA, in an 18-month period, 206 patients at a particular facility received radiation doses approximately eight times the expected level of 0.5 Gy to the head. The patients actually received 3-4 Gy. The FDA says the excessive dose resulted in hair loss and erythema. All patients receiving the scans were notified.

Allegations in Suit
The complaint alleges that lack of appropriate safety functions, confusing methodology or other causes led to the CT machines emitting higher levels of radiation, and that the radiation is both a health hazard and known carcinogen. Ms. Coudert states in the complaint she received a CT brain perfusion scan in September to determine if she had had a stroke. The equipment used was a GE CT scan device. After the scan, Ms. Coudert's hair began to fall out. Ms. Coudert says that according to "experts' present understanding," the genetic material of her brain cells has been damaged and she is now at increased risk of contracting brain cancer.

The complaint alleges causes of action of product liability, negligence, breach of warranty and requests the award of damages including a fund to pay for future medical monitoring of the putative class in case of compensable injury.

Get More News and Links:

FDA Reveals More Radiation Exposure Cases
www.dotmed.com/news/story/10930
Rad Groups Recommend Keeping a Closer Eye on CT Scan Dosage Protocols After Cedars-Sinai Fiasco
www.dotmed.com/news/story/10650

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Cedars-Sinai, GE
www.dotmed.com/news/story/10525

Error Leads to CT Radiation Overdose
www.dotmed.com/news/story/10467

FDA Notification of CT Radiation Overexposures
www.dotmed.com/news/story/10437

The FDA update: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm185898.htm

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