Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2021
Keywords:
Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Digital radiography, Education, Education and training
Authors:
P. Botella Faus, P. García Castañón, S. HONORATO HERNANDEZ, P. Rodriguez Carnero, C. PRIETO MARTIN
DOI:
10.26044/esi2021/ESI-13892
Purpose or learning objective
Directive 2013/59/Euratom (1) has been partially transposed into Spanish Legislation Royal Decree 601/2019 (2), on justification and optimization of the use of ionizing radiation in radiation protection of persons subjected to medical exposure. This Decree highlights the importance of informing patients subjected to medical exposures about radiation protection aspects.
There is a clear lack of information about ionizing radiation that causes excessive concern for both patients subjected to diagnostic procedures with X-rays, and also for their carers, who subject themselves to such exposure voluntarily in order to cooperate in the well-being of the patient. This lack of information can also cause people whose exposure to ionizing radiation is not recommended to be exposed unnecessarily, like pregnant women who take of their children to a diagnostic x-ray test and has to collaborate in the procedure for its good outcome. It is therefore mandatory to provide both patients and carers with the appropriate information, adjusted to the level of risk of the procedure and explained in a simple language, in order to provide reassurance and optimize radiation protection.
Article 7 of Royal Decree 601/2019 of the Spanish legislation (2) refers to carers as persons who collaborate in the well-being of patients subjected to medical exposures. The exposure of carers is only justified if it is of considerable benefit to the good outcome of the procedure. In accordance with article 3.10 of the referred Decree, all persons subjected to medical exposures or their legal representative, should receive appropriate information on the benefits and risks associated with radiation dose resulting from exposure, before the exposure takes place. Therefore, caregivers should be taken into consideration when providing information regarding medical exposures.
The purpose of this study is to present basic information on ionizing radiation and its effects, prepared to provide both to patients who are subjected to diagnostic procedures with X-rays and to carers who attend them when necessary.