The Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) held a meeting on 26 September in Brussels to discuss methods for avoiding unnecessary imaging procedures.
The meeting brought together a number of European professional radiology organizations, including the European Society of Radiology (ESR), the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), and the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT), as well as international groups such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The meeting's goal was to exchange views between the different stakeholder groups with respect to the justification of medical imaging procedures. HERCA believes that in order for imaging procedures to be performed, the procedure's positive contribution to patient care should outweigh any possible detriment caused by exposure to radiation. In addition, clinicians should consider alternative techniques that don't involve radiation.
HERCA believes that isolated actions taken by national radiation protection authorities will only result in limited benefit, and therefore has held a series of meetings where collaborative efforts can be discussed by all stakeholders. HERCA concluded it was pleased by the participation at the Brussels meeting, and thanked participants for their attendance.
