Radiography ethics are essential to all radiographers since they determine what is right or wrong for people through daily interactions with other people. Medical ethics are there to protect the patient together with their institution and their colleagues. With ethics in place, patients’ privacy is protected by all means since there is room for confidentiality. The ethical codes make it possible for radiographers as medical professionals to make sound decisions when faced with problems. The codes are also beneficial when the radiographer faces complex decision-making, like the patient’s beliefs, religion, or even a language barrier. The article gives an overview of medical ethics in radiography and what is expected of them in their workplace. It entails the guideline and principles radiographers should follow when interacting with patients.
The article shows how medical ethics have evolved long before, with some being kept and others rejected after some time. An essential rule in medical ethics is to help and not harm the earliest medical ethic from Hippocrates. This principle, or the Hippocratic Oath, has existed for years and has established other codes of conduct for medical practitioners. From this oath, one of the significant rules was to help others, which is why religious institutions opened their doors in the Middle Ages and helped the poor with medical care and provision of medicinal herbs that were used as drugs. A Persian philosopher, Abu Bakr Al-Razi, advocated for equality in health care when treating patients (Haskell, 2019). With time, the healthcare providers tried to gain the patients’ trust by adhering to the Hippocratic code of conduct.
Initially, physicians lacked professionalism since they aimed to promote themselves and their reputations. This unprofessionalism enabled a competitive community rather than prioritizing the well-being of their patients. Over the years, medical documentation became necessary since the doctor often relied on their memory regarding the patient’s condition (Haskell, 2019). Autonomy emerged in the 20th century, whereby the patient was responsible for their decision. Codes were put in place to take the patient’s needs before everything else. The codes are there to protect the patient’s needs at all costs.
The article provides an overview of the importance of ethics for students aspiring to be radiographers. It gives an insight into what to expect and how resourceful they must be to provide quality service. Students get to learn how to navigate through all the choices they face during complex decision-making. Radiographers know that professional integrity and morality can fuel the provision of exemplary service to patients. It is the moral duty of every radiographer to comply with the guidelines put in place. The students get their licenses after being trained well and with experience, radiographer students can discern methods most effective when faced with a specific challenge.
Radiographers learn the five decision-making models: engineering, paternal, collegial, contractual, and covenantal, which help them evaluate the challenges. The engineering model focuses only on performing the procedure without considering the patient’s interests. This model ignores the patient’s autonomy which is very important when seeking treatment. In the paternal model, the radiographer acts in the patient’s best interest (Haskell, 2019). The model is only acceptable if the patient is unresponsive. The engineering and paternal model is not applicable in modern medicine since the patient must consent to any procedure. The collegial model involves the physician explaining to the patients their options and answering all their concerns. The contractual model establishes the relationship between the patients and the physician. It also states the rights and what the physician and the patients require. The conventional model is based on the relationship between society and the clinician. This approach is necessary for an emergency without overriding the patient’s autonomy and consent.
The article offers awareness and lessons on how radiographers can consider other ways to protect patients from harm. For instance, radiation exposure is unavoidable even though it is necessary. Therefore, a radiographer must provide an adequate shield, choosing factors that reduce and minimize radiations, ensure proper equipment functionality, and adjust collimators. Radiographers should act in a professional way such that they gain the trust and confidence of the patients. The radiographers should resolve any conflicts in the workplace without raising any tension that could hinder their work performance. The radiographer should provide the patients with quality care keeping in mind the patient’s needs consistently. Quality care differs depending on the requirements, and radiographers must respond appropriately to their needs. When providing quality care to every individual, the radiographer should not discriminate against the patient based on sex, race, or the disease the patient suffers from.
In conclusion, the article gives a lot of insight into the evolution of ethics and medical ethics in radiography. It shows the guidelines and principles that radiographers must stick to in order to provide quality care. Caution must be taken during the encounters with patients to avoid being unethical with patients. It is further learned that radiographers should always maintain patient confidentiality and seek the patient’s consent during the only procedure. Therefore, the article gives knowledge of various ethics the radiographers have to follow in their profession.
Reference
Haskell, S. L. (2019). Medical ethics in radiography. Radiologic Technology, 90(3), 237-254.