At least 10 nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have reportedly developed brain tumors, prompting staff to call for an independent investigation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A group of current and former nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, is raising alarm after at least 10 staff members were diagnosed with brain tumors over the past several years, prompting renewed demands for an independent investigation into environmental conditions at the facility’s fifth-floor maternal care ward.
According to a whistleblower who spoke to CBS Boston, the cluster of tumors—some cancerous and others benign—appears concentrated among nurses who have worked on the fifth floor of the hospital. “It’s getting to the point where the number just increases, and you start saying, ‘Am I crazy thinking this? This can’t just be a coincidence,’” said the whistleblower, who is among those recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The nurse claimed that “as many as ten nurses who work on the fifth floor have been diagnosed with different brain tumors over the last few years.” Among the affected nurses, at least three have required surgery, the source told the station.
In response to growing concerns, Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital stated it became aware of the issue in December and launched an internal investigation. The hospital told CBS Boston that eight nurses were interviewed, five of whom had been diagnosed with benign brain tumors. The review included assessments by the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, the hospital’s safety office, radiation and pharmaceutical experts, and third-party environmental consultants.
“After we became aware of reported brain tumors in individuals who currently or previously had worked in the same area of the hospital, we conducted an extensive investigation,” said Dr. Jonathan Sonis, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Sandy Muse, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services, in a joint statement to CBS Boston/WBZ-TV.
“To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December,” they continued. “The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor.”
The hospital stated it shared findings with staff, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), and other stakeholders, including environmental test results from external firms. “Based on these results, we can confidently reassure our dedicated team members at Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility,” the statement read.
However, hospital staff say they are not satisfied. Nurses are calling for an independent investigation, expressing skepticism over the internal review’s transparency and thoroughness. Despite the hospital’s reassurances, multiple nurses have stated that they do not feel safe, pointing to persistent unanswered questions regarding potential long-term exposure to chemicals, radiation, electromagnetic fields, or pharmaceuticals.
The MNA has not publicly stated whether it will pursue further action but has received the hospital’s investigative materials for review. Staff members continue to advocate for a deeper, independent probe to determine whether occupational or environmental factors could have played a role in the health issues affecting their colleagues.
The nurses maintain that the health and safety of hospital workers must not be assumed but rather proven through an open and exhaustive inquiry.
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