As reported in the New York Times, a hospital in Missouri said Wednesday that it had overradiated 76 patients, the vast majority with brain cancer, during a five-year period because powerful new radiation equipment had been set up incorrectly even with a representative of the manufacturer watching as it was done.

The hospital, CoxHealth in Springfield, said half of all patients undergoing a particular type of treatment — stereotactic radiation therapy — were overdosed by about 50 percent after an unidentified medical physicist at the hospital miscalibrated the new equipment and routine checks over the next five years failed to catch the error.

The revelation comes at a time of growing concern about safety procedures for a new generation of powerful, computer-controlled medical radiation equipment.

Sadly, these kinds of deadly errors often could have been avoided if the medical providers had followed basic safety protocols as well as ensured that their protocols provided sufficient patient safety.

Lieff Cabraser has successfully represented patients improperly exposed to radiation by medical providers.  If you or a loved one suffered a severe injury due to excessive radiation as a patient, we can assist you in holding the hospital or medical facility accountable.  Please click here to contact a Lieff Cabraser personal injury attorney.