Program Information

The Future of Medical Physics in Relation to Low Dose Radiation Effects

L Wagner¹, M O'Connor², (1) UT Medical School, Houston, TX, (2) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Presentations

2:45 PM : Radiation from Medical Imaging Promotes Health - L Wagner, Presenting Author
3:15 PM : The Future of Medical Physics in Relation to Low Dose Radiation Effects - M O'Connor, Presenting Author

TU-G-FS1-0 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017) 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Room: Four Seasons 1

Louis Wagner-Radiation from Medical Imaging Promotes Health

Addressing medical care with the acronym ALARA is inadequate and misleading because it focuses only on hypothetical risks of low-dose radiation. The full measure of exposure to radiation for medical reasons is to promote health. By focusing solely on risk, ALARA falsely implies that radiation from medical imaging is inherently unsafe. The mantra “There is no safe dose” adds further to this myth. While after a century of research scientists continue to exam data to see if they can verify or deny the hypothesis that radiation at these low doses causes cancer, radiologists everyday are tangibly using medical imaging as a powerful tool to promote health. This presentation proposes that we as medical professionals should promote the positive role that radiation plays in healthcare by living up to the higher standard that the benefit/risk of medical imaging should be as high as reasonably achievable -- AHARA.

Learning Objective:
1. To assure we place the known benefits of radiation exposure from medical imaging in meaningful perspective with our knowledge about potential risks of low-dose radiation exposure.

Handouts

127-38308-419554-127070-1190715818.pdf (L Wagner)

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