Five nurses working at a Boston maternity ward have been diagnosed with brain tumors, triggering serious concerns about potential health hazards in American healthcare facilities. The Massachusetts Nurses Association has launched an independent investigation after criticizing the hospital’s internal review, which suspiciously doubled X-ray procedures during the COVID-19 years but found “no environmental risks” despite the alarming tumor cluster.
Government Silent While Nurses Fall Ill
The disturbing pattern emerged at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where five nurses from the fifth-floor maternity unit developed benign brain tumors. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration reportedly remained unaware of the situation and offered no comment, raising questions about government oversight of healthcare worker safety.
"… a rep for the hospital said, '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…' " https://t.co/l1uUUT3sgH
— Frankie Crisostomo (@FrancCrist) April 5, 2025
Hospital officials claim they conducted “an extensive investigation” with various safety departments and external consultants after learning of the brain tumors. The Massachusetts Nurses Association criticized this investigation as inadequate, noting that hospital officials only interviewed a small number of nurses and performed limited environmental testing.
Radiation Exposure Doubled During COVID-19 Years
A particularly alarming finding revealed that 668 X-rays were performed on the fifth floor, effectively doubling the radiation exposure risk for staff members. The hospital’s Occupational Health Service review claimed that safety measures were supposedly in place despite this increase, and exposure remained “within safe limits.”
This is an extremely specific cancer cluster. 10 cases of brain cancer, all in nurses on the same floor and ward. All women? What is the common exposure? Very scary to see a brain cancer cluster in a maternity ward, where so many begin life. @NIH should be involved in this… https://t.co/gwHEdL9mud
— Dana Wefer, Esq. (@WeferLawOffices) March 30, 2025
Hospital administrators quickly dismissed potential connections to long-term mask use and drinking water quality. They also claimed that tests found no abnormal levels of ionizing radiation or issues with air quality and cleaning supplies. Yet, the cluster of tumors in the same department remains unexplained.
Nurses Union Takes Action Where Hospital Failed
Since beginning their independent investigation, the Massachusetts Nurses Association has received over 300 responses from current and former hospital employees. They are now working to verify diagnoses and gather medical records to determine the full scope of the health crisis affecting healthcare workers.
“This urgency comes from a place of concern for the health of nurses, their families, and patients — an urgency that we share,” stated the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Their statement directly challenges the hospital’s rushed conclusion that found no environmental risks, prioritizing a thorough investigation over administrative convenience.
The American Cancer Society defines a cancer cluster as occurrences of the same type, in the same area, with the exact cause, and affecting more people than expected. Despite this textbook definition matching the situation at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, administrators continue to downplay concerns and assure staff and patients there is “no environmental risk at our facility.”