Ethics in the Age of Digital Imaging

Paper Summary:

The radiographic industry finds itself flooded with marketing propaganda promoting the myriad benefits of digital imaging systems. While computed radiography and direct radiography systems greatly improve departmental productivity, an environment exists for potential systematic overexposure. This paper examines how system design combined with training and education deficits regarding dose awareness makes adherence to the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)principle extremely difficult. It also looks at how improved, vendor driven education in conjunction with well-planned quality assurance programs can help rectify practitioners' ethical obligations with digital imaging.

From the Paper:

"Ease of acquisition has inadvertently caused a two-fold problem in radiology departments: one) a trend exists where more images than necessary are being obtained; two) more imaging studies are being ordered than are justified. In the first scenario, rapid acquisition of images allows for instant gratification. Previously, an image of borderline quality may have been accepted for diagnosis rather than re-expose the patient. Now, instead of submitting the image to the radiologist for possible acceptance, it is increasingly common to find that technologists are repeating images as the simplest course of action. (Parry et al, 1999) In the second situation, utilization of radiologic services is rising dramatically with the implementation of digital imaging. "

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