Protection of the Patient

Abstract

Although, in a properly undertaken investigation, the patient receives a benefit, there is also a risk, which must be assessed and controlled (Overbeek et al. 1994). The level of this risk can be appreciated by comparison with other investigations and risks and it can be controlled, most directly, by limiting the administration activity. This must not be so severe as to reduce the efficacy of the investigation, however. Of particular concern are the nursing child and the foetus of an irradiated patient, because they are particularly sensitive to radiation. They also derive no direct benefit from the investigation, although the indirect benefit is the care of the mother and the possibility that delaying an essential procedure may present a greater risk to the foetus (Sharp et al. 1998). It is the responsibility of the nuclear medicine department to keep radiation absorbed doses to patients ALARA and to provide comprehensive information and advice. Guidance is provided in ICRP reports: Publication 52 (1987) “Protection of the Patient in Nuclear Medicine”, and Publication 53 (1994) ad 80 (1999) “Radiation Dose to Patients from Radiopharmaceuticals”, the last using ICRP 60 (1991) dosimetry. These reports supercede Publication 17 (1971) “Protection of the Patient in Radionuclide Investigations” because, in the time between the reports, the number of radiopharmaceuticals increased, knowledge of their pharmacokinetics improved, and acquisition and processing techniques became more complex.