Pre-reading mammograms by specialised breast technologists: legal implications for technologist and radiologist in The Netherlands.
This paper focuses on the legal implications in terms of duties and responsibilities for radiologists and radiologic technologists of independent pre-reading of mammograms by radiologic technologists, so patients could be discharged without being seen by a radiologist. Pre-reading could be effectuated when preconditions are met to perform reserved procedures by unauthorised professionals as stated in the Individual Health Care Professions (IHCP) Act. Furthermore, compliance with a protocol or code of conduct in combination with adequate training and supervision should be sufficient to disprove potential claims. For a wide implementation, pre-reading should be well-embedded in legal rules and should answer the professional standard of care.
Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
F J H M
FJ
van den Biggelaar
K
K
Flobbe
J M A
JM
van Engelshoven
N P Y M
NP
de Bijl
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D009426:Netherlands; D011871:Radiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*