Lead Radiological Technologist Convicted for Falsifying Mammograms: Women Later Discovered Advanced Stages of Breast Cancer
Earlier this month, a lead radiological technologist in Perry, Ga. was convicted for falsifying and signing off on mammogram reports that incorrectly cleared nearly 1,300 women of signs of breast cancer or abnormalities.
Rachael Rapraeger was sentenced to serve up to six months in a detention center, 10 years of probation, will pay a $12,500 fine and cannot work in the health care field. In court she pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct and one felony charge of computer forgery, Fox News reported.
Her attorney Floyd Buford told the Associated Press that Rapraeger was going through personal issues, which had caused her to become dissatisfied with her work at Perry Hospital and fall behind on processing mammogram films.
Rapraeger changed the results of the mammogram readings after assuming the identities of physicians.
Issues arose in April 2010 when one woman, who had been given a clean bill of health based on her mammogram from Perry Hospital, went to another hospital that found cancer in her breasts.
The hospital investigated how it missed the diagnosis and found that the doctor whose name was on the report wasn't working the day the report was filed, according to CNN.
Rapraeger admitted what she had done to her supervisor and was terminated about a week later.
Since confessing, several women who were previously reported to not have breast cancer were found to actually have the disease, including Sharon Holmes, a high school custodian and mother of two.
She had found a lump in her breast three months after getting a mammogram and being told there were no complications based on the report.
In February 2010, a new mammogram revealed she had stage 2 breast cancer, according to Fox.
A month later, however, doctors performed surgery, which went successfully, as she has been cancer free for four years after going through chemotherapy and radiation treatment.