[ RadSafe ] Doctors unaware of CT radiation risks

[Stewart Farber]

The point made below by Pete Baily that " HPs don't know a lot about pharmacology" is not germane. HPs are not involved in drug administration decisions.

However, IF the study published reviewing over a dozen studies to suggest what fraction of practicing physicians are ill-informed about CT doses and risks is indeed accurate, then there is a problem. How can there be a serious discussion among physicians, regulators, and the public about
 what might be done about the ever increasing use of CT leading to a very large increase in total radiation exposure of the public [per recent NCRP reports on this issue] if a goodly number of physicians are not familiar with CT rad exposures and risks?

Stewart Farber, MSPH

Farber Medical Solutions, LLC
Linac & Rad Protection Instrument Brokerage

[203] 441-8433 [office]

website: http://www.farber-medical.com
farber at farber.info

--- On Thu, 10/14/10, Bailey, Pete <Pete.Bailey at fpl.com> wrote:

From: Bailey, Pete <Pete.Bailey at fpl.com>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Doctors unaware of CT radiation risks
To: "'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List'" <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 8:36 AM

I really don't find that 'fact' bothersome . . . 

 . . . I'm sure med HPs don't know a lot about pharmacology, for example.

What is disturbing . . .
 . . . I sense (I'm not in med HP) the med hps are not 'consulted' prior
       to the Drs discussion with a patient on 'routine' CT & MRI.

I would be more upset if the sonologist(?) 
 wasn't sure, or thought 'yes',
 
relative to ultrasound procedures involve ionizing radiation.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of stewart farber
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 1:37 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Doctors unaware of CT radiation risks

A link is shown below to a disturbing, recently published study of how many 
physicians underestimate CT rad risks, and how many think MRI, and ultrasound 
procedures involve ionizing radiation! See:

<http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/14487?p_begin=0>

 
Stewart Farber, MSPH