Ionising radiation - What is a medical exposure

Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom was transposed into Irish law as European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018

The regulations define new minimum safety requirements to protect individuals from hazards associated with medical exposures to ionising radiation. A medical exposure to ionising radiation is when a patient receives ionising radiation as part of their diagnosis or treatment. This could be an X-ray at a dentist, a scan at a hospital, a mammogram, or radiotherapy received as part of cancer treatment. It also includes exposure to radiation for medical or biomedical research purposes as well as carers and comforters exposed to ionising radiation while attending a patient. In the regulations, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the Competent Authority for the regulation of medical exposures to ionising radiation in Ireland. The regulations extend HIQA’s functions and regulatory powers to include public and private radiological, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and dental medical radiological installation. In this video, John Tuffy, HIQA Regional Manager (Ionising Radiation) explains medical exposures for HIQA and explains how the new regulations will drive safer better healthcare for patients in the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures they receive. For more information on the statutory requirements for medical exposures, visit www.hiqa.ie.