Lawsuit: Faulty GE CT scanners caused brain damage

Twelve patients treated at Alabama’s Huntsville Hospital using CT scanners made by GE Healthcare (NYSE:GE) say the scanners caused brain damage, memory loss, baldness and other symptoms, according to a lawsuit.

Lisa Adair and 11 other plaintiffs allege that the CT procedures they received using the GE equipment, computed tomography scans of the head and neck, exposed them to excessive ionizing X-ray radiation that damaged their brain cells on a molecular level, according to the breach of warranty lawsuit.

"As a result of the scan, Ms. Adair’s hair immediately began to fall out (epilation) in a two-inch wide, band-like pattern. Much later, she suffered from other symptoms including impaired vision and an impaired cognitive ability and/or deficiencies in memory," the lawsuit alleges. "[T]he genetic material of her brain cells was immediately damaged" by the scans, according to experts the plaintiffs plan to cite.

Adair and her co-plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial,
compensatory damages, lost wages, medical expenses, compensation for pain, suffering and severe mental anguish and interest.

The judge assigned to the case, Richard Kyle of the U.S. District Court for Minnesota, recused himself from the case a day after the lawsuit was filed, according to court documents. The case was sent back to the court to be assigned to another judge, according to the documents.

Cases of over-exposure from CT scanners made by GE and Toshiba in about 200 patients over 18 months prompted the Food & Drug Administration to issue new guidelines for CT procedures late last year. At the time, Centers for Devices and Radiological Health chief Dr. Jeffrey Shuren said officials have not made a determination about whether the machines or human error were to blame.