Radiation Exposure
Radiation occurs naturally in sunlight and sound waves. However, man has also harnessed the power of radiation, which is becoming an increasingly important part of medical diagnostic tools. While radiation can help doctors diagnose health problems, excess amounts of this carcinogen can mutate cells and cause serious health issues.
Should you receive a large amount of radiation in a short time span, you can suffer from burns and radiation illness. If you have suffered from radiation sickness due to an unsafe amount of exposure at a hospital or doctor’s office, you may be entitled to financial compensation to help you recover. To discuss your case, contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.
Sources of Radiation
The natural sources of radiation account for only a small amount of the exposure that we receive regularly. In fact, medical instruments are often the main source of radiation exposure. Medical devices that can release radioactive particles include:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- X-rays
- Nuclear cardiology procedures
- Endovascular reconstruction
- Cardiac radiofrequency ablation
Radiation Sickness
Radiation sickness is like acute radiation poisoning. A large dose of radiation may be more than your body can handle, leaving you with symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Hair loss
- Skin burns
- Organ failure
Sometimes, even a single procedure such as cardiac radiofrequency ablation can lead to such powerful radiation exposure that it can leave burns on your skin at the site of the procedure. If this exposure is not carefully controlled, it can leave you very sick.
Contact Us
Doctors and radiographers undergo years of training in order to operate radioactive material without harming patients. However, sometimes mistakes with this equipment can lead to sickness and an increased risk of cancer. If you are a victim of medical radiation poisoning, you should fight back against this terrible form of negligence. Contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 today for a free consultation.