Who should justify the need for every radiation procedure and accept responsibility for protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure?

Who should justify the need for every radiation procedure and accept responsibility for protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure?

• A. Referring physician
• B. Radiologist
• C. Radiologic technologist
• D. Hospital administrator

Answer: (A)

Justification of every radiologic procedure rests with the clinician who requests the study. That physician must determine that the expected diagnostic benefit outweighs the patient’s radiation risk and consider alternatives with less or no radiation when possible. By making that decision, they take responsibility for protecting the patient from unnecessary exposure. The radiologist contributes by reviewing and confirming the appropriateness of the indication, while the technologist carries out the exam with proper technique and dose optimization. Administrative leaders establish safety policies, but the responsibility for justification lies with the ordering physician.

Justification of every radiologic procedure rests with the clinician who requests the study. That physician must determine that the expected diagnostic benefit outweighs the patient’s radiation risk and consider alternatives with less or no radiation when possible. By making that decision, they take responsibility for protecting the patient from unnecessary exposure. The radiologist contributes by reviewing and confirming the appropriateness of the indication, while the technologist carries out the exam with proper technique and dose optimization. Administrative leaders establish safety policies, but the responsibility for justification lies with the ordering physician.