Radiologic Technology

1
Radiologic Technology Professionalism

1. Code of Ethics for Radiography
2. Principles / Rules of professional conduct for
   RTs
3. Legal aspects
4. Patients rights when entering a health care
   institution

2
Introduction

• Radiography is oriented to the diagnosis and
  treatment of human disease.
• Therefore RTs have to work in intimate contact
  with people on a daily basis.
• The RT has a commitment to accept the code of
  ethics of the profession and all that it entails.
• They are faced daily with situations that may
  have ethical an legal implications for them.

3
..Introduction continued

• Most healthcare is oriented towards effective
  communication.
• Health care professions should develop a way of
  communication with patients that is therapeutic.
• The RT will be working with patients who have
  serious, often terminal illness.
• He must be able to relate to them in an
  understanding an sensitive manner.
• Competence in this area of communication requires
  an understanding of the grieving process and
  understanding of ones own feelings about death
  and dying.

4
.Introduction continued

• Therefore the student must ask himself the
  following questions
• Am I prepared to accept and practice this
  profession and support the ethics of this
  profession?
• Am I prepared to accept and practice this
  profession and avoid violations of law?
• Am I willing to learn to relate to my patients in
  a professional and therapeutic manner?
• If Yes you are ready to proceed

5
Professional EthicsCode of Ethics for
Radiography / Radiologic Technology

• Formulated by American Society of Radiologic
  Technology

6
Principle 1

• The RT functions efficiently effectively,
  demonstrating conduct and attitudes reflecting
  the profession.
• 1.1 Responds to patient needs
• 1.2 Performs tasks competently
• 1.3 Supports colleagues and associates in
  providing quality patient care

7
Principle 2

• The RT provides service to patients without
  discrimination
• 2.1 Exhibits no prejudice for sex, race, creed,
  religion
• 2.2 Provides service without regard to social or
  economic status
• 2.3 Delivers care unrestricted by concerns for
  personal attributes, or nature of the disease or
  illness

8
Principle 3

• The RT practices technology founded on scientific
  basis.
• 3.1 Applies theoretical knowledge an concepts in
  the performance of tasks appropriate to the
  practice
• 3.2 Utilizes equipment and accessories consistent
  with the purpose for which they have been
  designed.
• 3.3 Employs procedures and techniques
  appropriately, efficiently, and effectively

9
Principle 4

• The RT exercises care, discretion, and judgment
  in the practice of the profession.
• 4.1 Assumes responsibility for professional
  decisions.
• 4.2 Assess situations and acts in the best
  interest of the patient.

10
Principle 5

• The RT provides the physician with pertinent
  information relate to diagnosis and treatment of
  the patient
• 5.1 Complies with the fact that diagnosis and
  interpretation are outside the scope of practice
  for the profession
• 5.2 Acts as an agent to obtain medical
  information through observation and communication
  to aid the physician in diagnosis and treatment
  management.

11
Principle 6

• The RT is responsible for protecting the patient
  , self, and others from unnecessary radiation.
• 6.1 Performs service with competence an
  expertise.
• 6.2 Utilizes equipment and accessories to limit
  radiation exposure to self and other members of
  the health-care team

12
Principle 7

• The RT practices ethical conduct befitting the
  profession
• 7.1 Protects the patients right to quality
  radiologic technology care.
• 7.2 Provides the public with information related
  to the profession and its functions.
• 7.3 Supports the profession by maintaining and
  upgrading professional standards.

13
Principle 8

• The RT respects confidences entrusted in the
  course of professional practice.
• 8.1 Protects the patients right to privacy
• 8.2 keeps confidential, information relating to
  patients, colleagues, and associates.
• 8.3 Reveals confidential information only as
  required by law or to protect the welfare of the
  individual or the community.

14
Principle 9

• The RT recognizes that continuing education is
  vital to maintaining and advancing the profession
• 9.1 Participates as a student in learning
  activities appropriate to specific areas of
  responsibility as well as to the scope of
  practice.
• 9.2 Shares knowledge with colleagues
• 9.3 Investigates new and innovative aspects of
  professional practice

15
Principle 10

• The RT acts to advance the principle objective
  of the profession to provide services to humanity
  with full respect for the dignity of mankind
• 10.1 Participates in and actively supports the
  professional organizations for RT
• 10.2 Acts as a representative for the profession
  and the tenets for which it stands
• 10.3 Serves as an advocate of professional policy
  and procedure to colleagues and associates in the
  health-care delivery system.

16
Principles of professional Conduct
17
Principles of professional conduct for
Radiographers / Radiologic Technologists

• These principles/rules are intended to serve as a
  guide by which RTs may evaluate their
  professional conduct as it relates to patients,
  colleagues, other members of the medical care
  team, healthcare consumers, and employers and to
  assist RTs in maintaining a high level of ethical
  conduct

18
Principle 1

• The RT shall conduct themselves in a manner
  compatible with the dignity an professional
  standards of their profession

19
Principle 2

• RT shall provide services with consideration of
  human dignity an the needs of the patient,
  unrestricted by consideration of age, sex, race,
  creed, social or economic status, handicap,
  personal attributes, or the nature of the health
  problem

20
Principle 3

• RT shall make every effort to protect all
  patients from unnecessary radiation

21
Principle 4

• RT should exercise and accept responsibility for
  independent discretion an judgment in the
  performance of their professional services

22
Principle 5

• RT should shall judiciously protect the
  patients right to privacy and shall maintain all
  patient information in the strictest confidence

23
Principle 6

• RT shall apply only methods of technology founded
  upon a scientific basis and not employ those
  methods that violate this principle

24
Principle 7

• RT shall not diagnose, but in recognition of
  their responsibility to the patient, they shall
  provide the physician with all information they
  have relative to radiologic diagnosis or patient
  management

25
Principle 8

• RT shall be responsible for reporting unethical
  conduct and illegal professional activities to
  the appropriate authorities

26
Principle 9

• RT should continually strive to improve their
  knowledge and skills by participating in
  educational and professional activities and
  sharing the benefits or their attainments with
  their colleagues

27
Principle 10

• RT should protect the public from misinformation
  and misrepresentation.

28
Legal aspects of Radiologic Technology

• All patients who present themselves for care in a
  health-care institution are protected by the
  Patients Bill of Rights.
• It delineates the rights that the patient has as
  a consumer of health care.
• All healthcare workers are required to adhere to
  the provisions of this bill.

29
The Patients Bill of Right in America

1. The patient has the right to considerate and
   respectful care.
2. The patient has the right to obtain from his
   physician complete current information concerning
   his diagnosis, treatment, an prognosis in terms
   the patient can be reasonably expected to
   understand

30
The patients Bill

1. The patient has the right to receive from his
   physician information necessary to give informed
   consent prior to the start of any procedure and
   treatment
2. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to
   the extent permitted by law, and to be informed
   of the medical consequences of his action.

31
The patients Bill

1. The patient has the right to every consideration
   of his privacy concerning his own medical care
   programme. Case discussion, consultation,
   examination, and treatment are confidential and
   should be conducted discreetly. Those not
   directly involved in his case must have the
   permission of the patient to be present.

32
Informed Consent

• Many procedures performed in diagnostic imaging
  departments require special consent forms to be
  signed by the patient, or in the case of minor
  children or other special cases, by their parents
  or legal representative.
• The RT must be familiar with the procedures that
  require special consent
• It is his duty to recheck the patients chart
  (BHT) to be certain that this has been
  accomplished

33
Medical records

• The chart or the BHT has documented on it, up
  to date records of all patient visits,
  treatments, medications, and medical procedures
  etc.
• This is to transmit information about the patient
  from one health worker to another, to protect the
  patient from medical error, to provide
  information for medical research, an to protect
  the health worker in case of litigation.
• This should include.?

34
Communication

• Next lesson