Ten maternity nurses working on the same floor at a Massachusetts hospital have been diagnosed with aggressive brain tumors.
Staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have been diagnosed with various forms of brain cancer over the past few years.
As many as 10 nurses on the same maternity ward at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have been diagnosed with brain cancer.
One anonymous nurse expressed concern, stating that the increasing number of cases raises questions about their cause and suggests that it may not be a coincidence.
She emphasized the need for reassurance, as the past few months have been challenging for many staff members.
The nurse expressed a desire to feel safe, similar to the desire to ensure patient safety.
The hospital conducted an extensive investigation since December and concluded that the brain tumors are not the result of environmental risk.
In a statement, the hospital clarified that the investigation had found no evidence of environmental factors contributing to the cases.
The hospital said in a statement:
“After we became aware of reported brain tumors in individuals who currently or previously had worked in the same area of the hospital, we conducted an extensive investigation…”
The hospital said it interviewed the 10 nurses as part of its investigation.
“Every staff member who came forward was given the opportunity to be interviewed by the Occupational Health and Safety team to evaluate each diagnosis in the context of their individual medical history and risk factors,” the statement read.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the brain tumors.
