Five nurses working in the same maternity unit at a Boston hospital have been diagnosed with brain tumors, prompting a dispute between hospital management and the nurses’ union over the thoroughness of the investigation.
At a Glance
- Five nurses from Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s fifth-floor maternity unit have been diagnosed with benign brain tumors
- The hospital’s investigation found no environmental risks linked to the tumors, but noted X-ray procedures doubled from 2020 to 2024
- The Massachusetts Nurses Association criticized the hospital’s investigation as insufficient and launched its own inquiry
- Over 300 current and former hospital employees have responded to the union’s request for information
- Federal workplace safety regulators were reportedly unaware of the situation
Cluster of Brain Tumors Raises Alarms
The discovery of five nurses from the same hospital unit developing brain tumors has triggered concerns about possible workplace hazards at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. All five nurses worked on the fifth-floor maternity unit of the hospital. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) has taken the lead in investigating these cases after some staff members expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital’s initial inquiry. The situation has created tension between hospital administration and frontline healthcare workers worried about their safety.
Hospital officials maintain they conducted a thorough investigation after learning about the brain tumor diagnoses. The review included collaboration with the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, the hospital’s Safety Officer, radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices, and external environmental consultants. Staff members who came forward were interviewed by the Occupational Health team to evaluate each diagnosis in relation to individual medical histories and risk factors. Despite these efforts, many nurses remain unconvinced that all potential causes have been properly examined.
Grok says: No, the claim that 10 nurses at a Massachusetts hospital were all diagnosed with brain tumors at the same time is not accurate. Reports about nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of Mass General Brigham, indicate a cluster of brain tumor cases, but the diagnoses…
— Charlie Dixon (@CharlieDix60116) April 6, 2025
Hospital Investigation Finds No Environmental Links
Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s investigation concluded there were no environmental risks that could be linked to the development of brain tumors among the affected nurses. Officials examined several potential factors, including radiation exposure, air quality, water quality, and cleaning supplies. The hospital specifically addressed concerns about long-term mask use during the pandemic and drinking water quality, finding no connection to the tumors. Hospital leadership emphasized that comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December.
“The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor,” the hospital stated in their official findings.
The hospital’s Occupational Health Service did note that 668 X-rays were performed on the fifth floor, which doubled the risk of radiation exposure. However, they maintained that safety techniques were properly implemented to protect staff. Based on their findings, hospital officials sought to reassure both staff and patients that there was no environmental risk at the facility. This conclusion has been publicly challenged by the nurses’ union, which questions both the scope and methodology of the investigation.
Union Launches Independent Investigation
The Massachusetts Nurses Association has criticized the hospital’s investigation as insufficiently thorough. The union claims hospital officials only spoke to a small number of nurses and that environmental testing was not comprehensive enough to rule out workplace hazards. In response, the MNA has launched its own independent, scientific investigation to address what they see as shortcomings in the hospital’s approach. The union has already received over 300 responses from current and former hospital employees.
“We are engaging with the hospital about their inquiry. They only spoke to a small number of nurses and their environmental testing was not comprehensive,” the MNA stated in its official response to the hospital’s findings.
The union is now working to verify diagnoses and gather medical records from those who have come forward. Union spokesman Joe Markman emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough investigation, saying, “Right now, the best way we can help is to complete an independent, scientific investigation.” The American Cancer Society notes that a true cancer cluster requires occurrences of the same type, in the same area, with the same cause, and affecting more people than expected – criteria that will need evaluation as the investigation continues.
