Radiation safety when a patient dies after therapy.
When a patient dies a short time after radionuclide therapy, several issues arise due to the shifting of responsibility from patient care to protection of the public, while respecting societal values and rites. Such a situation occurred in our institution after administering a large therapeutic dose of 131I for metastatic thyroid cancer. The requirements of safe practice, the shift accountability, the ethical aspects and forthcoming changes in the regulatory constraints are discussed.
Bybel
B
B
Department of Nuclear Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Ontario, Canada.
Blais
M
M
Vandierendonck
R
R
Driedger
A A
AA
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000368:Aged; D003643:Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005655:Funeral Rites; D006283:Health Physics; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011835:Radiation Protection; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012449:Safety; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals