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Medical imaging and radiation protection for medical students and clinical staff

Not surprisingly, most of the publications are of primary interest to one or other of the groups that make up the diverse membership of the BIR. Therefore, it is good to be able to draw attention to a publication [1] that is directed at a different group, namely medical students and clinical staff who are not specialists in diagnostic imaging.

The driver for the publication was a recommendation in the EU Council Directive 97/43/Euratom on "Health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionising radiation in relation to medical exposure" (Article 7, Paragraph 4) that "Member States shall encourage the introduction of a course on radiation protection in the basic curriculum of medical and dental schools". The purpose of this recommendation is to ensure that the Referrers (Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000) of tomorrow understand their responsibilities and the wider implications of radiological examinations.

The book contains all the background information a Referrer needs, including short chapters on radiation in the environment and in medicine, the effects of exposing cells and people to X-rays, risks from radiological examinations, principles of radiation protection and legislation, and the "dos" and "don'ts" of requesting an X-ray.

However, the editors of the book were aware that radiation protection is not a big turn-on for medical students or most doctors. Therefore they also commissioned chapters, mostly from radiologists, to explain the principles of the major imaging modalities (plain radiographs, CT, radionuclide imaging, ultrasound and MRI) and their roles in current clinical practice. By doing this it is hoped that the book will also provide a "shop window" on current approaches to diagnostic imaging and will encourage an increasing number of medical students to take an interest in the subject.

More specialized chapters are included on the basics of radiotherapy and radiation protection implications of screening, for the generalist who wishes to be better able to answer their patients' questions. There is also a chapter on research projects involving radiation since this is an area where non-radiation specialists are particularly ill informed on the pre-planning that is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.

The final chapter draws together many of the issues that have been considered earlier in the book. These include the choice and sequence of investigations, good clinical practice, and risks relating to the use of ionising radiations. It also points out that all the above must be achieved within a framework of increasingly scarce resources.

The authors hope that regular readers of the Journal will enjoy dipping into the book. More importantly, they would like your help in ensuring that the book is brought to the attention of the intended readership–perhaps by mentioning it to the undergraduate or post-graduate Dean of the Medical School–or in other ways.

The dual aims are to make Referrers and medical students more aware of their responsibilities in respect of radiation risk and to stimulate medical interest in diagnostic imaging. If these aims are achieved, the BIR will have had notable success in the context of one of its objectives.

References

1. Martin CJ, Dendy PP, Corbett RH, editors. Medical imaging and radiation protection for medical students and clinical staff. London, UK: British Institute of Radiology, 2003.

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