Sixth case of brain tumor among staff at Massachusetts Hospital

A sixth member of the staff with a brain tumor was identified at a hospital in Massachusetts, who earlier this month insisted that no “environmental risks” were in play.

The six employees work or have worked on the fifth floor of the Mass General General Bigram, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, located about 20 minutes west of Boston.

Each of the brain tumor cases was benign, although six additional staff on the floor were found to have “other health concerns”.

The news was broken earlier this month that some people working in the mother’s and distribution work unit had developed brain tumors.

One of those people told CBS News that she was among 10 nurses who would have brain tumors – both cancerous and non -cancerous – in recent years.

“You are getting to the point of increasing the number, and you start saying,” Am I crazy thinking that? “,” She said. “This may not be just a coincidence.”

However, the hospital insists that during an investigation, they found no environmental risks on the fifth floor that would contribute to these tumors.

“After we were aware of the reported brain tumors in individuals who currently or previously worked in the same area of ​​the hospital, we have conducted a widespread investigation in cooperation with the Department of Health and Safety at work, said security officials in Newton-Wellesley, Radiation and Pharmaceuticals, and external environmental consultants,” said officials with Newton-Weller Hospital NBC10 Boston.

From the beginning to December, they talked to staff and conducted “comprehensive environmental assessments after CDC instructions”.

“The investigation found no environmental risks that could be associated with the development of a brain tumor,” they concluded.

They also discovered that only five staff members at the time – all nurses – who had brain tumors. They did not elaborate on the health concerns of the other six.

NBC10 Boston has now reported that a sixth staff with a tumor has come forward, according to a hospital representative.

The hospital has told employees that their health, well -being and safety are their “main advantage”.

Dissatisfied with the investigation is the Association of Nurses in Massachusetts, which told Boston.com that they are engaged with the hospital for their investigation.

“They only spoke of a small number of nurses and their environmental testing was not comprehensive,” they said. “The hospital cannot make the matter leave by trying to provide a predetermined conclusion.”

Meanwhile, the nurse who estimated that the total number of cases is higher than confirmed by the investigation says the hospital has not been quite supportive, especially in the light of some of the nurses undergoing surgery.

“We want security, because this has not been a last month for many of the staff members,” she said. “We want to feel safe, in the same way as we want to make our patients feel safe.”