In the UK, the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME) R) 2017 and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018 make it clear that there is a requirement to provide information to patients regarding radiation risks prior to exposure. Current legislation provides no clear steer on who is responsible for ensuring patients receive radiation safety information. This leads to diffusion of responsibility, a situation where everybody and nobody is responsible. To ensure this does not impact on patient care, joint professional body guidance states that responsibility should be clearly defined in the employer’s procedures. Researchers have suggested that clearer guidance on who is responsible for carrying out this task is required. The timing of the provision of information and the responsibility for this task is not straightforward. Diagnostic examinations are routinely requested by registered healthcare professionals from a wide range of backgrounds (referrers under IR(ME)R). Numerous studies have shown that these staff groups struggle to identify imaging examinations that increase the risk of cancer induction6. Without additional support, most referrers are ill-equipped to engage in informed risk conversations with patients.
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