RSNA Statement, Resources Align with New WHO Policy
Emphasis on ethics promotes patient-centered care and shared decision making
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a policy brief emphasizing the importance of ethical responsibility in protecting patients and health care workers from harmful radiation effects in medical imaging.
The brief aims to integrate ethics into the existing framework of justification, optimization and dose limitation for medical radiation protection and enhance the delivery and safety of patient-centered care. It was written primarily for individuals who request and provide imaging services but is also intended as a resource for patients to assist in health care decision making.
As part of an ongoing effort to support education and research to support quality, safety, equity and patient centered care, RSNA has maintained a position statement on appropriate use of medical imaging. The statement aligns with the WHO brief in its emphasis on the importance of imaging-focused education, training and experience in the safe, ethical use of medical imaging.
In addition, RSNA’s position statement encourages collaboration among radiologists, medical physicists, manufacturers and radiologic scientists in the development of technologies and protocols that ensure the safety of patients and medical personnel.
For more than a decade, RSNA has partnered with the American College of Radiology, American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine to offer Image Wisely®, an online resource for the medical community that promotes radiation safety in medical imaging. To learn more about this joint initiative, visit ImageWisely.org.
For More Information
Access RSNA’s position statement on Appropriate Utilization of Medical Imaging.