Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The saga of notorious radiologic technologist David Kwiatkowski appears to be nearing its conclusion, at least as far as his own criminal liability is concerned. Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges of infecting patients with hepatitis C by taking the anesthetic fentanyl intended for patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures and diverting it for his own use.
Kwiatkowski reversed course after an initial not-guilty plea last December, reaching an agreement this week with prosecutors to plead guilty to all 14 counts of the indictment against him. Under the deal, Kwiatkowski is expected to spend between 30 and 40 years behind bars.
Click here for the details, or visit our Imaging Leaders Digital Community at leaders.auntminnie.com.
Joint Commission targets imaging safety
After concluding that its current diagnostic imaging requirements need to be enhanced to address "several significant quality- and safety-related issues," the Joint Commission has proposed revisions for its ambulatory care, critical access hospital, and hospital accreditation programs.
The proposed revisions focus on CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and PET. What is the organization looking for? Click here for our coverage by features editor Wayne Forrest. After reviewing the proposals, you can submit your comments to the Joint Commission until September 25.
Safety for interventional radiologists
Radiation-protection provider BloXR has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for a new bismuth-based hand cream that shields interventionalists' hands from radiation -- potentially keeping them safer than the radiation protection gloves they often refuse to wear. Get the whole story in an article you'll find here.
Final days for Minnies
There are only a few days left to submit nominations for the Minnies, AuntMinnie.com's annual awards event recognizing excellence in radiology. If you haven't made your nominations yet, visit minnies.auntminnie.com to let us know about a colleague, product, or service that you believe merits special recognition. Nominations will be accepted through August 18.
