HUNTSVILLE, AL—
A North Alabama woman is among hundreds of people nationwide who may have been exposed to potentially dangerous levels of radiation during CT brain perfusion scans.In the last year and a half, the Food and Drug Administration says more than 250 people across the country received an overdose of radiation during the scan which is used to diagnose strokes.
Huntsville Hospital is in the process of contacting at least 60 patients who may be at risk from the radiation dosage. If you have had a similar experience as the woman in this story, please call Huntsville Hospital at (256) 265-8317.
A picture of Alabama school teacher Becky Coudert shows how she has lost her hair, leaving a bare ring around her head.
Her attorney, Richard Patterson, of Valencia, California, says Coudert entered Huntsville Hospital on September 8.
Doctors told her she had Bell's Palsy. Then, they tested her to see if she had had a stroke.
"It was determined fortunately, that she did not have any blockage or no stroke," said Patterson.
When doctors tested her, they ordered a CT scan of her brain with contrast dye.
Since that time, her attorney says she's had all kinds of problems.
"Her hair began to fall out over the next couple of weeks. She developed a broad band of baldness from one temple to the other, from around the back of the head. She became dizzy and nauseous experienced some blurred vision," said Richard Patterson.
Coudert and her attorney believe the reason she's experiencing problems is a result of an overdose of radiation from the CT scan. And she may not be alone.
"We have very good reason to believe that this radiation overdose may have taken place over a period over several weeks. Which would lead us to conclude that other people were probably exposed or may have been exposed to the same problem," said Patterson.
While we attended an event on Tuesday to mark the groundbreaking of a hospital in Madison, WHNT NEWS 19 asked Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers about the situation.
"We've got all hands on deck and there's a lot of information being developed at this point," said Huntsville Hospital David Spillers.
Spillers says he stands behind his hospital staff.
"It's my understanding there's a lot of hospitals that do extensive stroke work that use the same technology that has the potential to do that," said Spillers. "But in the end, do you want to find out if somebody is having a stroke and fix it or not? Because without that technology, chances are you might not be able to find and diagnose the problem," said Spillers.
Becky Coudert's hair has not grown back yet, and her concerns about the impact of a possible overdose of radiation still remain.
The FDA says it's unclear whether the radiation overdoses were caused by human error or problems with the CT equipment.
Late Tuesday evening, Huntsville Hospital sent WHNT NEWS 19 a statement indicating they are reviewing the matter and are following the FDA's recent recommendations to minimize radiation dosage levels and any potential side effects.
The statement goes on to say that they are committed to the highest level of care and safety for their patients, and that images from the CT brain perfusion scans provide critical information that may help save a life or prevent a life-long disability.
