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.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Ontario, Canada.
B
B
Bybel
M
M
Blais
R
R
Vandierendonck
A A
AA
Driedger
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