Five former and current employees of Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, Tenn., have filed lawsuits alleging inadequate hospital construction led them to excessive radiation exposure from CT scans, according to an Oak Ridge Today report.
The plaintiffs claim the hospital lacks lead barriers in the scan room walls to protect hospital workers from radiation. Hospital workers allegedly realized radiation was coming through the scan walls when completed scans were turning cloudy, according to the report.
The plaintiffs were allegedly exposed to the excess radiation since 2006 when the radiology imaging center opened in the new emergency department as part of a remodeling.
The lawsuits were filed against Covenant Health of Knoxville (Tenn.), operator of Methodist Medical Center, Rentenbach Engineering of Knoxville and TEG Architects of Jeffersonville, Ind., alleging they did not have qualified personnel survey proper construction parameters or properly determine lead barrier thickness, according to the report.
Two of the plaintiffs report being pregnant during the alleged excessive radiation exposure. Two plaintiffs also allegedly now suffer from thyroid problems, headaches and experience trouble sleeping.
The lawsuit was filed on Monday Jan. 20 in the Anderson County Circuit Court. Plaintiffs are seeking general damages and past and future economic damages, including potential healthcare costs, according to the report.
Methodist Medical Center will dispute the allegations, according to the report.
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