Sixth nurse diagnosed with brain tumor in a possible cluster of Massachusetts hospitals
Something strange can happen to a Massachusetts hospital. At least six employees working on the same floor of Newton-Wellsley Hospital have recently developed benign brain tumors.
The latest cases of brain tumors were disclosed this week by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of the General of the Mass (OHS) of Newton-Well Leslie Parental System. The affected employees are nurses working in the fifth floor obstetric unit. The hospital said that while the Massachusetts Nurses Association is still studying the matter, its investigation has not identified any “environmental risks” linked to the case.
The underlying tumor cluster was first reported by local media WBZ in early April, while the hospital's investigation began in December. Before this week, five Newton-Wellesley employees were known to have brain tumors. On Monday, the Boston Herald reported that the OHS sent a letter to patients and families revealing the sixth case.
“To date, through its employee interview process, OHS has identified six employees working on the fifth floor and reported reports on the development of benign (non-cancerous) brain tumors,” wrote Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer of Mass Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital in the letter.
Cancer or tumor clusters are sometimes caused by environmental pollutants, such as carcinogenic toxins that end up in the same drinking water. But the OHS said that for these situations, no potential common causes have been found in the hospital.
“Although the OHS investigation is underway, we have not found that these medical conditions are caused by the work environment,” Moloni said in the letter.
However, the employees themselves do not believe it. At least some people believe that other recent illnesses in their employees may be related to the workplace.
“We want to be relieved because for many staff, the past few months have not been reassuring,” a nurse who diagnosed the tumor was anonymously, told WBZ. “We want to feel safe, just like the way we want to make patients feel safe.”
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union of MGH nurses, is also conducting its own investigation. The association previously told the Herald in early April that the hospital's investigation was “incomplete”. For now, issues at Newton-Wellesley Hospital are still not closed.
“We are pleased to see hospitals continuing to look into this,” a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Nurses Association said in a statement to the Herald. “Our investigation is underway and we will share the results when our health and safety department completes a review of the diagnosis reported to the MNA.”
The union's findings are expected to be released to the public by the end of this month.
