Sixth Nurse Diagnosed With Brain Tumor in Possible Cluster at Massachusetts Hospital

Something unusual could beryllium happening astatine a Massachusetts hospital. At slightest six employees moving connected the aforesaid level of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital person precocious developed benign encephalon tumors.

The latest encephalon tumor lawsuit was disclosed this week by the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) astatine Mass General Brigham, the genitor strategy of Newton-Wellesley. The affected employees are nurses who person worked connected the 5th level maternity unit. The infirmary says its probe has not yet identified immoderate “environmental risk” linking the cases, though the Massachusetts Nurses Association is inactive looking into the matter.

The imaginable tumor clump was first reported by section media outlet WBZ successful aboriginal April, portion the hospital’s probe had begun successful December. Prior to this week, 5 employees astatine Newton-Wellesley were known to person developed encephalon tumors. On Monday, the Boston Herald reported that the OHS sent a missive to patients and families revealing a sixth case.

“To date, done their worker interrogation process, OHS has identified six unit members who person worked for varying durations connected the 5th level and study processing benign (non-cancerous) encephalon tumors,” Ellen Moloney, president and COO of Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital, wrote successful the letter, according to the Herald.

Cancer oregon tumor clusters are sometimes caused by environmental contaminants, specified arsenic carcinogenic toxins that extremity up successful the aforesaid drinking water. But the OHS says it has yet to find immoderate imaginable shared origin astatine the infirmary for these cases.

“While the OHS probe is ongoing, we person recovered nary grounds that these aesculapian conditions were caused by the enactment environment,” Moloney said successful the letter.

The employees themselves aren’t convinced, however. And astatine slightest immoderate judge that different caller illnesses among their unit could beryllium connected to the workplace.

“We privation reassurance, due to the fact that this has not been a reassuring past fewer months for a batch of the unit members,” 1 caregiver diagnosed with a tumor, who was granted anonymity, told WBZ. “We privation to consciousness safe, the aforesaid mode we privation to marque our patients consciousness safe.”

The Massachusetts Nurse Association, a national representing nurses astatine MGH, is besides conducting its ain investigation. The Association previously told the Herald successful aboriginal April that the hospital’s probe was “not comprehensive.” And for now, it’s inactive not closing the publication connected thing being incorrect astatine Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

“We are gladsome to spot the infirmary is continuing to look into this situation,” a Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson said successful a connection to the Herald. “Our probe is ongoing, and we volition stock the results erstwhile our wellness and information part completes its reappraisal of the diagnoses reported to the MNA.”

The union’s findings are expected to beryllium released to the nationalist by the extremity of the month.