Re: NRC Information Notice 2002-28

["Michael G. Stabin" <michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu>]

> Notice, the NRC notes that, "Several recent NRC inspections have

> identified cases involving medical licensees who appointed an RSO

> [Radiation Safety Officer] or AU [Authorized User] without this

> individual's knowledge or consent.  As a result licensed activities were

> performed without the oversight of an RSO and dosages were administered

> to human patients without the supervision of an AU."

> This would be funny if it weren't so sad.



Perhaps it does not need to be said, but I could not agree more with Bill on

this. I have heard of this before, anecdotally, so I won't cite particulars,

but this is a recurring theme, and it represents a reprehensible situation

that can only be viewed with outrage and disbelief. This is the worst kind

of irresponsibility, and in a setting in which serious safety issues may be

in play.



Some argue that a lot of health physics involves spending too much time and

money worrying over nanosievert doses when attention could be better spent

elsewhere. I think the issue of patient overexposures during fluroscopy and

the issue addressed above are serious, and should get high priority by us as

a society for attention and prevention. I am not saying that anything else

should be forgotten or given zero priority. I am just saying that these

areas are quite serious and need attention, and that we should be taking the

lead in saying so and proposing reasonable solutions, or we ain't doin' our

jobs.



Mike



Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP

Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

Vanderbilt University

1161 21st Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37232-2675

Phone (615) 343-0068

Fax   (615) 322-3764

e-mail     michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu

internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com







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