Rational Policy, Irrational Science

Medical Radiation Safety: Rational Policy,
Irrational Science

In general, it is difficult to summarize the state of knowledge in an entire field in a brief editorial. But the sum of our knowledge about the biological effects of low-level medical radiation upon humans is so small, I have no hesitation in doing so.

 Before the screaming starts, let me first stipulate that the current vague “as low as reasonably achievable” policy for the use of diagnostic medical radiation seems perfectly reasonable to me. The emphasis on using the lowest possible radiation doses to achieve the greatest patient benefit is not only rational but wise, and I heartily endorse it, until something better comes along.

But something better is not coming anytime soon, given our abysmal lack of knowledge about the biological effects of medical radiation in our patients.

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-- Robert G. Stern, MD

This article originally appeared in the August 2012 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.