NEWTON, Mass. — Health and workplace safety officials conducted an inspection at Newton-Wellesley Hospital this week following reports of at least six staff members developing benign brain tumors over the course of several years. The investigation comes as part of ongoing efforts to uncover the underlying causes behind these mysterious cases.
The affected staff members worked on the fifth floor of the hospital, specifically in the post-partum and labor and delivery units, spanning over many years. Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Health carried out their inspection of the labor and delivery unit, with the Department of Public Health (DPH) confirming their visit. Additionally, the DPH’s Division of Radiation Control Program was set to visit the hospital to conduct their own measurements and review information provided by the hospital’s radiation safety officer.
While DPH has confirmed their collaboration with OSHA, the federal agency has yet to issue a statement in response to the situation. Hospital officials, on the other hand, stated that their internal investigation found no evidence linking the tumors to the workplace environment. Mass General Brigham officials emphasized that based on their findings, they are confident that there are no environmental risks associated with the reported cases.
Newton-Wellesley Hospital is part of the Mass General Brigham hospital group. The Massachusetts Nurses Association declined to provide a statement, citing their own ongoing investigation into the matter. A statement from Mass General Brigham highlighted the top priority of the health and well-being of their staff, clinicians, and patients. The statement detailed a thorough investigation process conducted in collaboration with various safety offices and external consultants to evaluate potential environmental exposures and individual medical histories. Thus far, the investigation has not identified any environmental triggers at Newton-Wellesley Hospital that could be linked to the development of brain tumors among staff members.