VA cancer report more dud than thud
The 110-page report is the last of several probes into the troubled prostate brachytherapy program at the Philadelphia VA, which gave incorrect doses of radiation to 97 of 114 patients treated from February 2002 to June 2008, when it was shut down.
After months of investigation, the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's Office issued its report on the troubled prostate brachytherapy program at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
The 110-page report is the last of several probes into the troubled prostate brachytherapy program at the Philadelphia VA, which gave incorrect doses of radiation to 97 of 114 patients treated from February 2002 to June 2008, when it was shut down.
While the report was critical of the medical center's lack of oversight of the program, the lack of a contract with the University of Pennsylvania which supplied the doctors and other staff to perform the treatments, and its poor quality management, the report emphasized that the 15 men who have had their cancer return and the 16 patients who had radiation damage to their rectums, bladder or other surrounding tissue was "within the norm."
Now that the report has been released, little remains of the problems that spawned nearly two years of internal and external investigations. One of the strongest responses came from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission which fined the VA $227,500 for violations of the regulations governing the medical use of radioactive materials. The VA paid the fine in April.
Also, left in the wake of the report are 38 claims by veterans or their relatives seeking up to $71 million for injuries sustained undergoing the procedures that involve implanting dozens of tiny radioactive seeds into the acorn-sized gland.
Check out the story published Tuesday's in The Inquirer.
Click here for the full report released at 4 p.m., Monday, May 3.
Check out earlier stories on the program at the Philadelphia VA:
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Feds see wider woes in VA's cancer errors
Sunday, July 19, 2009
VA radiation errors laid to offline computer
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Federal official quantifies Phila. VA problems
Sunday, August 9, 2009
VA's prostate treatment woes began at Penn;
Prior to the VA program, leading brachytherapists said the Penn doctors performing the radioactive seed implants lacked the proper skills and safeguards.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
VA clinic troubles bring few penalties;
Despite poor care in the Phila. prostate program, the agency has only slapped a few hands.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
NRC cites VA clinic for radioactive-treatment violations
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Claims against Phila. VA up to $58 million
Friday, December 18, 2009
VA apologizes but denies radiation violations
Saturday, January 16, 2010
VA clinic now concedes violations
Thursday, Mar. 18, 2010
NRC fines Phila. VA $227,500 over prostate care