Minimizing Patient Dose

Order Description Chapter 13 provides an overview for minimizing patient dose. The target is for diagnostic procedures; however, in radiation therapy it is important as well. Students will write a paper about radiation safety including dose, exposure, importance of patient positioning and communication, technical factors, radiation risks as well as the ethical aspect of radiation safety Write a 2-3 page paper that will include: The difference between dose and exposure Explain why patient communication is important for reducing patient dose Explain why patient positioning and immobilization is important to reduce dose Describe why and what technical factors can reduce or limit dose (time, distance, shielding) Discuss radiation risk vs benefit to patient Ethical aspects of radiation safety (Principles of Biomedical Ethics – i.e. autonomy, beneficence, justice