Healthcare specialists known as radiographers carry out diagnostic imaging operations to aid in diagnosing and treating medical diseases. Radiographers frequently encounter moral conundrums during their employment, where they must weigh the ethical obligations to their patients with the practical requirements of their line of work. In order to give their patients the best care possible, radiographers must put their patients’ welfare first and adhere to the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. This includes good communication and incorporating patients in the decision-making process.
In a specific case study, a radiographer confronted an ethical dilemma when a patient complained of back pain while undergoing a scan. Since the radiographer had scheduled appointments for additional patients, interrupting the scan would have disadvantaged those individuals. However, the radiographer had a responsibility to the patient and their welfare. Ramlaul et al. (2021) assert that the radiographer should have stopped the scan after carefully evaluating the patient’s condition. Always put the patient’s health and comfort first; the radiographer’s job was to keep the patient at ease throughout the scan. Unfortunately, the patient experienced emotional anguish and a lack of empathy due to the radiographer’s ineffective communication with them.
As healthcare providers, radiographers must act in the patient’s best interests. Even if it means canceling appointments or moving scans, they must prioritize the patient’s needs. Throughout the imaging process, patients should be allowed to express any objections or concerns and information about their rights to decline (Makanjee and Engel-Hills, 2018). In this instance, it was unethical for the radiographer to put the schedule ahead of the patient’s comfort and safety. According to Smith et al. (2022), effective communication is crucial in these situations, and radiographers must make sure that patients are fully informed and included in the decision-making process. For the best patient care, healthcare professionals should constantly adhere to the moral principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
In conclusion, radiologists are essential to the delivery of diagnostic imaging services. However, they must put the well-being of their patients first, even if it means upsetting other patients. To make sure that patients are completely informed and involved in the decision-making process, effective communication with them is essential. Radiographers must abide by the moral principles of beneficence and non-maleficence to ensure they give their patients the most excellent care possible.
Reference List
Makanjee, C. R., & Engel-Hills, P. (2018). ‘Ethics in diagnostic radiography in South Africa: A complex temporary encounter mediated through text and technology‘. African Perspectives on Ethics for Healthcare Professionals, pp. 201-214. Web.
Smith, B., Makanjee, C. R., Lee, H., Hayre, C. M., & Lewis, S. (2022). ‘Radiographers’ experiences and perspectives of forensic imaging in Australia: A qualitative study‘. Radiography, 28(4), pp. 1110-1115. Web.
Ramlaul, A., Duncan, D., & Alltree, J. (2021). ‘The meaning of critical thinking in diagnostic radiography‘. Radiography, 27(4), pp. 1166-1171. Web.