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Medical Use of Ionizing Radiation Needs Better Regulation

Medical Group Urges New Rules on Radiation

The New York Times By WALT BOGDANICH

February 4, 2010

The leading professional organization dedicated to radiation oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, including the establishment of the nation’s first central database for the reporting of errors involving linear accelerators — machines that generate radiation — and CT scanners. The group, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, or Astro, issued a six-point plan on Wednesday that it said would improve safety and quality and reduce the chances of medical errors………..

Astro will also press for federal legislation to require national standards for radiation therapy treatment teams, along with additional resources for the Radiological Physics Center, a federally financed group that evaluates the safety of treatments….

The Times found that while serious radiation accidents were indeed rare, it was impossible to know how often they occurred: there is no central clearinghouse for such cases, and they are chronically underreported. What is more, radiation injuries can take years to show.

Medical Group Urges New Rules on Radiation – NYTimes.com

February 6, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive