New York, NY – Brooklyn Hospital Exposed Babies to Unnecessary Radiation

New York, NY – The New York Times says state health officials have begun an inquiry into a New York City hospital for failing to report its past use of full body X-rays of infants.

The so-called “babygrams” were quickly stopped after they were discovered at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn in 2007.

The Times says the hospital also instituted tight controls on how and when radiation was used on infants. But it says it never reported the use of the “babygrams” to state health officials.

The paper says state health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah has ordered an investigation. Her office will look at medical records and interview staff.

“Babygrams” have been discredited because of the potential harm of radiation on the young. The hospital is cooperating.