MLK Harbor Hospital Cited for Mishandling Radioactive Waste

Aug. 2, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- More trouble for besieged Martin Luther King Junior Harbor Hospital -- it is cited for breaking radiation safety rules. It's a potentially dangerous discovery.

If the hospital receives too many violations, it will lose the critical federal funding it needs to stay open. Concerns are emerging now from new quarters -- a whistleblower from the District Attorney's office, and doctors from the community.

The picketers in front of the hospital on Thursday come with credentials -- community doctors, some who work at Drew University and at one time helped operate MLK. They say consistent failures are the fault of county officials at the top.

"The county civil grand jury recommended strongly that this hospital be taken from the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and placed under separate hospital authority," said Dr. Ernie A. Smith of the Black Community Health Task Force.

They are calling on the federal government to take over the facility, which they say is not likely to pass the inspection currently underway.

"We'll say valiant, but futile," said Dr. Smith.

And before the inspection is done, there notice now of 18 violations posted in the hospital involving radioactive material. A lapse was uncovered when an alarm sounded at the Downey Recycling Plant. Hazardous radioactive material was detected in the diaper of a patient who had been exposed to low-level radioactivity as part of his treatment.

Further inspection found gaps in testing for radiation contamination at the hospital, records on waste disposal were spotty, and some staff were not adequately trained.

Dr. Ernie Smith says the responsibility for radioactive waste fell through the cracks when MLK dropped its affiliation with Drew University.

"When they severed the relationship an unintended consequence, and not [forward] thinking of the county, was what they were going to do in terms of stepping up to take over that responsibility," said Dr. Smith. "The county failed to do so."

Another finger of blame is pointed by a deputy district attorney. In a redacted memorandum obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Jeffrey Jonas sought a grand jury investigation into possible criminal charges at the hospital regarding whether there is a persistent pattern of preventable deaths.

On Thursday, Jonas would not go on camera with ABC7 Eyewitness News. He said, "My concerns remain the same."

The D.A.'s office declined to pursue the matter, saying there were no specific deaths identified, and insufficient evidence of any crime.

As for the radiation violations, the hospital could face misdemeanor charges if corrective action is not taken. Hospital officials say they are addressing the problem. Meantime, the inspection continues.

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