Apr 16, 2008 12:27 pm US/Pacific
David Goldstein Investigates Mammogram Machines
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
"We trust -- we trust our life to them."
Lessie Love can't help but get emotional when she talks of how a mammogram saved her life.
"I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been found."
Twelve years ago a mammogram machine like this caught her cancer. But now we've uncovered mammogram facilities -- cited for violating federal standards -- Again. And again. And again.
Experts say that could be dangerous.
"The result of that could be that you would miss a cancer."
The standards were set by congress in 1992 -- strict guidelines to insure that all mammogram machines are working properly.
In fact the federal mandate says the facilities have to conduct a quality control test every single day. And be inspected once a year by the FDA. But we found facilities failing inspections over and over. And women never know it.
We obtained a list of FDA inspection results for mammography facilities in Southern California. Every single violation for the past twelve years! In a moment we'll tell you how to find out if your facility is on the list.
The most serious violation -- a level one. Which means the inspector found something that "may seriously compromise the quality of mammography services."
That's what they found at Kaiser Permanente's Edgemont facility in Los Angeles last year. They were slapped with a level one violation when inspector's allege they were using a machine that wasn't working properly. Kaiser denies it. But this facility was also cited 10 other times since 1996 for less serious level 2 and level 3 violations.
Kaiser said they regret the citations and quote "we want to reassure the women who had mammograms...that we are confident their films were accurate."
Saint Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino also received a level one violation last year. The facility has been cited eight times in the past 11 years--including a level one in 07 for missing those federally mandated daily safety checks.
"You do these tests to ensure that the processor and the chemicals in the processor are performing optimally."
Doctor Scott Ferguson is chairman of the federal committee that oversees mammography standards. And he says failing to perform necessary tests could be deadly.
"The result of that could be that you would miss a cancer."
Saint Bernardine claims the safety checks were completed but that its "test records were misplaced."
Central Diagnostic Imaging Network in Glendale also had a level one violation last year for not completing the same safety checks--and has had three in the past seven years!
They blamed poor record keeping.
How serious are these violations?
"It's a big deal. It's a major deal. It's against FDA regulation."
Diane Rinella is a member of the federal mammography standards committee. And a technician Pacific Breast Care center in Costa Mesa.
"It would be a concern for me if i was a consumer going in for a mammogram."
"Now hold real still. Don't move."
But most women never know because the inspection reports aren't required to be posted anywhere.
And for people like Lessie Love who preach the importance of mammograms--women have a right to know if the machine is working properly.
"If they're not of the highest quality, they should not be allowed to do the mammograms."
List Of Mammogram Facility Inspections
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