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A nurses’ union is not happy with a Mass Normal Brigham investigation that discovered the mind tumor cluster at Newton-Wellesley Hospital just isn’t related to working circumstances.
The hospital has recognized six nurses who’ve labored on the power’s fifth-floor maternity unit and reported benign (non-cancerous) mind tumors “occurring over many years,” in response to President Ellen A. Moloney.
“An ongoing investigation has found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment,” Moloney wrote in a letter to the Newton-Wellesley hospital group earlier this week. She emphasised that Mass Normal Brigham’s Division of Occupational Well being and Security’s evaluation continues to be happening.
“Based on the results of this rigorous ongoing investigation,” Moloney wrote within the replace on Tuesday, “we can assure you that no environmental risks have been identified at our hospital.”
In response to Moloney’s replace, the Massachusetts Nurses Affiliation mentioned in a press release that it doesn’t imagine the “testing presented so far is definitive.”
The MNA’s division of well being and security, consisting of occupational well being nurses, additionally launched its personal investigation, which stays in progress. The union has mentioned the hospital’s environmental testing was not complete.
“We are discussing next steps with the hospital,” the union mentioned in a press release, “including sharing the results of our inquiry and bringing in an independent expert to review the situation.”
Moloney’s replace got here after one other former nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital reported earlier this month of being recognized with a mind tumor, bringing the reported case rely as much as seven.
The nurses recognized with mind tumors have labored within the maternal care labor/supply unit on the hospital’s fifth ground in some unspecified time in the future.
Web site visits from the state Division of Public Well being and the federal Occupational Security and Well being Administration in April discovered no subject with working circumstances and environmental elements at Newton-Wellesley, in response to reviews from the businesses that accompanied Moloney’s replace.
State officers famous {that a} website go to included observing “radiation surveys throughout the facility, and a record review of X-ray equipment calibration and maintenance logs.” Just one staffer who has reported a mind tumor prognosis has spoken with DPH, the company famous.
“DPH was not able to confirm or deny the diagnoses of brain tumors or other health conditions in other staff since no other staff have responded to DPH’s offer to discuss their concerns,” the company acknowledged.
DPH added that “most brain tumors develop for no apparent reason and are not associated with specific risk factors,” and that “typical latency after exposure is estimated to be 10–50 years.”
“While there has been a great deal of misinformation shared on social media and in other forums, we want to make sure you have the facts,” Moloney acknowledged in her replace.
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Massachusetts mind tumor cluster: Nurses not happy with Newton-Wellesley examine (2025, Might 30)
retrieved 30 Might 2025
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