Fatal dose of radiation

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 3

Fatal dose of radiation

PA Dunedin A man died at Wakari Hospital in October after receiving a dose of radiation 'well in excess of the intended prescription, the Coroner at Dunedin (Mr J. M. Conradson) has found. Mr Conradson’s finding on the death of Desmond Cunningham Dillon, aged 60, of Roxburgh, was released yesterday. Mr Dillon was found to have died on October 10 of shock and heart failure resulting from severe fluid loss into the small bowel, caused by the effects of radiationinduced necrosis of the small bowel. “The evidence establishes that the dosage of radiation was well in excess of the intended prescription, due to several major miscalculations in the assessment of the appropriate dosage,’’ Mr Conradson said..' The Coroner said this called into question the procedures adopted by the hospital staff in relation to the administration of the treatment. “In this context it is appropriate to note the hospital s

■excellent history in this area, and further, that, following this death, an outside consultant was called in to advise on improvements to procedures and that several such improvements have now been implemented,” the Coroner said. “This shows a responsible and commendable attitude to do what is humanly possible to ensure that such a serious miscalculation of the dosage of radiation involved in radiotherapy treatment does not happen again.” Before giving his decision, the Coroner said he needed to emphasise that the purpose of a coroner’s inquest was to find the fact of death, the identity of the deceased and when, where, and 'how death occurred. “The parameters of the evidence at an inquest inquiry are difficult to define precisely, but in my view, they can be expressed nega-. tively by stating that an inquest is not a commission of inquiry nor is its purpose to make findings relative to any possible criminal or civil liability,” he said.