Date: May 2004-May 2005

Location: Epinal, France

Type of event: radiotherapy overexposures

Description:

During the period May 2004 to May 2005, 23 patients at the Jean Monnet d'Epinal hospital in Epinal, France, received radiation overdoses during radiotherapy. The treatments were for prostate cancer and were reportedly about 20% too high. The first symptoms related to radiation overexposure emerged in the summer of 2005. One patient died 25 June 2006 as a result of his radiation exposure, and 13 others have shown localized radiation injury. Of the remaining patients, 6 show no radiation-related symptoms and 3 died of causes unrelated to the radiation exposures. In July 2006 an investigation was initiated which concluded in September that a software problem was at fault, combined with inadequate staff training with the software.

Consequences: 1 fatality, 13 injuries.

References:

• AFP, 18 Oct. 2006, "Accidents de radiotherapie: le procureur d'Epinal ouvre une information," Yahoo! France, on line [http://fr.news.yahoo.com/18102006/202/accidents-de-radiotherapie-le-procureur-d-epinal-ouvre-une-information.html].
• ASN, 12 Oct. 2006, "Accidents de radiotherapie au centre hospitalier d'Epinal (Vosges)," Autorite de Surete Nuclearire, on line [http://www.asn.gouv.fr/sections/rubriquesprincipales/actualites/communiques-presse/2006/accidents-radiotherapie].
• IRSN, 13 Oct. 2006, "Accident de radiotherapie au centre hospitalier Jean Monnet d'Epinal (Vosges) : l'IRSN mandate pour une mission de radiopathologie," IRSN, on line [http://www.irsn.fr/vf/04_act/04_act_1/04_act_communiques_irsn/04_act_communiques_irsn_2006/04_act_061013.shtm].

© 2006 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 19 October 2006.
Return to Home. Return to Nuclear Weapons Resources. Return to Database of radiological incidents and related events.