In Philadelphia and other cities around the nation people are receiving more radiation than ever before. Recently, there have been reports of over radiation causing severe injuries to patients undergoing treatment. Now bills that have recently been released point to a potential lapse in radiation safety.
As a safety requirement, Medicare mandates that when patients undergo highly technical radiation treatments that the treating oncologist is present or nearby. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and patients are suffering from inexperienced technicians administering radiation therapy. According to bills submitted to Medicare treatments have been administered when oncologists are not present, some are not even in the country.
As the treatments become increasingly complex, the risk increases exponentially for patients. Oncologists must be on hand to oversee treatment to ensure patients are receiving the appropriate amount of radiation and to look for the signs of symptoms of over radiation in their patients. Regrettably, treatment is being administered without oncologists present and patients are suffering.
Related Sources:
Radiation Bills Raise Question of Supervision
