Erschienen in:
01.12.2014 | Editorial Comment
The aftermath of a radiation accident
verfasst von:
Kelly Erickson Goldman, Javad Rahimian, Rosalie Kim, Francois Eschwege, A. Robert Kagan
Erschienen in:
Journal of Radiation Oncology
|
Ausgabe 4/2014
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Excerpt
As no amount of preparation can render one as fully equipped for an earthquake or a tsunami and so it is that nothing learned can help a radiation oncologist effectively handle the threats of a serious mishap during the treatment of a patient. Despite our comprehensive and exhaustive informed consent process, it serves no weight for the patient and family when the incident occurs. The field of radiation oncology is evolving at a breakneck pace. The most common sources of errors in the past decades have now been addressed with implementation of the transfer of patient data into the record and verify system and the widespread replacement of manual blocking with the multi-leaf collimator. As our techniques have evolved, our quality assurance measures have developed certainly. Our physicists tirelessly perform quality control measures and our radiation therapists’ pre-treatment checklists and mandated time-outs grow in length and complexity. All of these have undoubtedly resulted in fewer radiation injuries over the years. Nonetheless, the increasing complexity of our techniques, the rapidity with which we can deliver treatment, and the high monitor units delivered within minutes all compound the probability that a routine error may turn into a disaster. …