FDA Investigation into CT Scan Radiation Poisoning

Has the FDA done enough investigation into CT scan radiation poisoning? It depends on whom you ask.

According to the FDA, the answer would be yes as of December 2009, they worked closely with local and state authorities to identify at least 50 patients who were the victims of excessive radiation poisoning from CT perfusion scans.

At that time the FDA sent warning letters to hospitals and radiology clinic technicians asking them to review their radiation dosing protocols and quality control procedures to ensure that patients received the appropriate levels of radiation dosage.

But was that enough?

Now eight months later, the FDA seems to be in the dark as to how widespread the problem really is according to an August 2010 article in the New York Times.

• Did the FDA follow up on their initial warning letters to hospitals and radiology technicians?
• Was the FDA still collecting data?
• Did the warning letters focus on possible brain damage and long term cancer risks or just loss of hair, redness/burns, and memory loss?

One has to wonder why the New York Times broke the story about radiation poisoning and the serious health risk implications and why the FDA was not notified by the doctors and hospitals involved in the radiation poisoning. 

If the FDA is not looking out for your patient radiation safety, who is?