WASHINGTON, D.C. - David Nexon, senior executive vice president of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), released the following statement regarding today's Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on medical radiation treatments:

"AdvaMed applauds recent calls by medical organizations and others for new programs designed to enhance safety for patients receiving radiation therapy. We believe the recently-announced six-point patient protection plan put forth by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will improve safety and quality and reduce the chance of medical errors.

"AdvaMed also commends the American College of Radiology (ACR) for its call to develop an accreditation program for radiation oncology facilities to further enhance the safety of this life-saving therapy.
"Radiation therapy is among the safest, most effective ways to treat cancer and is an important tool in the war against cancer. Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their illness. ASTRO estimates that 99.99 percent of the millions of radiotherapy treatments occur without incident. We believe the extensive measures recently put forth by ACR and ASTRO will further enhance that impressive safety record."

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Our members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.

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