The radiotherapy accident in Costa Rica occurred with the Alcyon II radiotherapy unit at San Juan de Dios Hospital in San José, Costa Rica. It was related to a cobalt-60 source that was being used for radiotherapy in 1996. An accidental overexposure of radiotherapy patients treated during August and September 1996 was detected. During the calibration process done after the change of 60Co source on 22 August 1996, a mistake was made in calculating the dose rate, leading to severe overexposure of patients. The error of calibration was detected on 27 December 1997. In the course of the accident, 114 patients received an overdose of radiation and 13 died of radiation-related injuries.[1][2]
Cobalt-60 Teletherapy Capsule
In 2001, the radiophysicist whose mistake caused the radiation overdoses was charged with 16 culpable homicides and sentenced to six years in prison.[3]
1996, juan, dios, radiotherapy, accident, radiotherapy, accident, costa, rica, occurred, with, alcyon, radiotherapy, unit, juan, dios, hospital, josé, costa, rica, related, cobalt, source, that, being, used, radiotherapy, 1996, accidental, overexposure, radiot. The radiotherapy accident in Costa Rica occurred with the Alcyon II radiotherapy unit at San Juan de Dios Hospital in San Jose Costa Rica It was related to a cobalt 60 source that was being used for radiotherapy in 1996 An accidental overexposure of radiotherapy patients treated during August and September 1996 was detected During the calibration process done after the change of 60Co source on 22 August 1996 a mistake was made in calculating the dose rate leading to severe overexposure of patients The error of calibration was detected on 27 December 1997 In the course of the accident 114 patients received an overdose of radiation and 13 died of radiation related injuries 1 2 Cobalt 60 Teletherapy CapsuleIn 2001 the radiophysicist whose mistake caused the radiation overdoses was charged with 16 culpable homicides and sentenced to six years in prison 3 See also EditGoiania accident 1962 Mexico City radiation accident List of civilian radiation accidents Radiotherapy accident in Zaragoza X ray Nuclear safety Nuclear whistleblowersReferences Edit Medical management of radiation accidents pp 299 amp 303 Strengthening the Safety of Radiation Sources Archived 2009 03 26 at the Wayback Machine p 15 Zuniga Alejandro CRC Daily Costa Rica s 1996 radiotherapy tragedy costaricadaily substack com Retrieved 2021 01 05 9 55 57 N 84 5 5 W 9 93250 N 84 08472 W 9 93250 84 08472 nbsp This Costa Rica related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Environmental disaster related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1996 San Juan de Dios radiotherapy accident amp oldid 1152110640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
