AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR CARDIAC PACEMAKER FOUND
"At approximately 10:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 17, 2011, a resident telephoned the above licensee and reported finding an 8 Curie Pu-238 nuclear cardiac pacemaker (ARCO NU-5 s/n 001). The licensee's medical physicist who interviewed the caller, immediately contacted NJDEP RMP [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Radioactive Material Programs). After interviewing the medical physicist, it was learned that the resident, while cleaning and gathering personal belongings of her deceased parent, came across an envelope that contained the pacemaker. The pacemaker was initially implanted in 1973 at the licensee's location (Newark Beth Israel) and removed in 1975 at an unknown location. After the pacemaker was removed, for reasons not yet known, it came back to the residence other patient where it remained until it's discovery on 6/17/11. The medical physicist has arranged to go to the resident's apartment later in the day where he will package the pacemaker for it's return and storage at the licensee's facility. At 12:15 PM the same day, the medical physicist reported that the pacemaker was safely returned to the licensee's facility. The pacemaker was intact with no signs of damage. The licensee will attempt to locate any files/information pertaining to the patient that may still be stored from the 1970's. A full report is expected from the licensee."
NJ Event ID No. NJ-11-17-06 |