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A comment on TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports. Parent comment

Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by jlgreco on Friday October 19, 2012 @05:34PM (#4675473)
I emphasis that not because I think hospitals are particularly safe but because I think the damage a malfunctioning x-ray machine may cause has a higher chance of being recognized for what it is in a hospital.

At the very least, people in hospitals tend to stay there longer. The radiation burns from Therac-25 took up to several days to become visible. Any damage that these machines may cause is likely going to be much more subtle, making the situation even worse.

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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by waqf on Friday October 19, 2012 @10:38PM (#4676200)
Speaking of radiotherapy overdoses, gnosis above provided an article about some more recent cases: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/health/29radiation.html?_r...;
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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by tedunangst on Friday October 19, 2012 @05:40PM (#4675497)
The Therac-25 wasn't plugged into a wall socket.
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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by jlgreco on Friday October 19, 2012 @05:43PM (#4675503)
These machines are plugged into wall sockets, therefore they must be safe.

Is that what you wish to imply?

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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by tedunangst on Friday October 19, 2012 @05:50PM (#4675526)
Yup.
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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by jlgreco on Friday October 19, 2012 @05:55PM (#4675546)
The thought that the manufacture of these machines may have displayed similar hubris and dismissiveness is frightening.

A risk, no matter how unlikely or small, is never worth taking if there is no payoff.

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Re:TSA Removes X-Ray Body Scanners From Major Airports by ktizo on Friday October 19, 2012 @10:18PM (#4676153)
I really hope you aren't being sarcastic, as that would be funnier. Here's how to make an x-ray machine strong enough to work with standard film that you can plug in the wall and uses old tv parts. Be careful in doing this as dosimeters apparently are required. http://www.belljar.net/xray.htm
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