Newspaper Reports Use of GPS for Prostate Care

An Associated Press report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has mistaken an analogy for reality. According to a Seattle Cancer Care Alliance press release:

"A system for tracking the movement of the prostate during radiation therapy has gone into service at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Featuring tiny GPS-type positioning transponders implanted inside the prostate, the technology tracks any movement of the prostate in real time and alerts technicians if the organ moves beyond pre-determined parameters so they can adjust the external beam of radiation."

The AP story in the SP-I reports that: "The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance says it is using the Global Positioning Satellite system to TRACK THE PROSTATE during radiation treatment." Dudes, read the press release! [UPDATE: 11:46 AM 2/13/2008] -- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has corrected the story. Hey, this is what I do. I solve problems. ; )