Ethical Principles of Protection from Radiation
PDF

Review

Ethical Principles of Protection from Radiation

Turk Radiol Semin 2025;13(1):1-7 DOI: 10.4274/trs.2024.24175
PDF
Permissions

Abstract

Due to radiation-containing examinations, there are responsibilities for the patient, the requester of the examination, the person deciding on the appropriateness of the examination, the practitioner conducting it, the administrators regulating the management processes, and national and international regulatory bodies regarding the potential harms as well as the benefits of radiation in radiology. Decisions made in favor of the patient present a dilemma, and it is inevitable that these responsibilities are addressed in an ethical context. This paper discusses the ethical principles in radiation protection. Acting in accordance with ethical principles ensures the proper use of radiation. The realization of ethical principles is possible through the use of scientifically developed methods. For this purpose, the concepts of justification, optimization, and dose limitation should be consciously and widely applied.

Keywords: Radiation protection, radiology, ethics

References

1

International Commission On Radiological Protection. ICRP ref: 4842-2907-2666. ICRP CODE OF ETHICS. Approved by the Main Commission on 2014 April 10.

2

Cho KW, Cantone MC, Kurihara-Saio C, Le Guen B, Martinez N, Oughton D, et al. ICRP Publication 138: ethical foundations of the system of radiological protection.Ann ICRP.2018; 47: 1-65.

3

Beauchamp TL, Childress JF, editors. Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2013.

4

Cho KW. Ethical foundations of the radiological protection system.Ann ICRP.2016; 45(1 Suppl): 297-308.

5

Ebdon-Jackson S, Frija G. Improving justification of medical exposures using ionising radiation: considerations and approaches from the European Society of Radiology.Insights Imaging.2021; 12: 2.

6

International Atomic Energy Agency. Justification of medical exposure in diagnostic ımaging. proceedings series. Proceedings of an International workshop Brussels, 2-4 September 2009. Last Accessed Date: 11.02.2025.

7

Malone J, Guleria R, Craven C, Horton P, Järvinen H, Mayo J, et al. Justification of diagnostic medical exposures, some practical issues: report of an International Atomic Energy Agency consultation.Br J Radiol.2012; 85: 523-38.

8

International Atomic Energy Agency. Governmental, legal and regulatory framework for safety: IAEA safety standards series No. GSR Part 1 (Rev. 1). 2016. Last Accessed Date: 11.02.2025.

9

Kurth DA, Karmazyn BK, Waldrip CA, Chatfield M, Lockhart ME. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® methodology.J Am Coll Radiol.2021; 18: 240-50.

10

John Damilakis, Guy Frija, Boris Brkljacic, Eliseo Vano, Reinhard Loose, Graciano Paulo, et al. How to establish and use local diagnostic reference levels: an ESR EuroSafe imaging expert statement.Insights Imaging. ; 14: 27.

11

Malone J, Zölzer F. Pragmatic ethical basis for radiation protection in diagnostic radiology.Br J Radiol. ; 89: 1059.

12

Ploussi A, Efstathopoulos EP. Importance of establishing radiation protection culture in radiology departments.World Journal of Radiology.2016; 8: 142-47.

13

Hohenemser C, Deicher M, Ernst A, Hofsäss H, Lindner G, Recknagel E. Chernobyl: an early report. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. 1986; 28: 6-43.