Radiology and Ethics Research Paper

Radiology and Ethics

In the contemporary world of today, radiologists face a number of ethical challenges that are rather different as compared to the issues faced by other physicians in the healthcare field. This is due to the fact that the interaction between the physicians and patients is not like one that is in other fields. The issues that radiologists are challenged with on a daily basis include speeding up of imaging studies for patients, specialty care gate-keeping, wait lists, queue jumping and corresponding the individual and societal needs. Thus, it is required of every radiologist to persistently stabilize and re-examine the ethical and legal responsibilities that lies on his/her shoulders towards the patients in particular and society in general (Cunningham, Reid, MacSwain & Clarke 170).

Ethical Issues in Radiology

The radiologists have remarkable responsibilities towards their patients and it is their duty to do everything that can be done for making sure that they provide the highest quality to their clients/patients. In case of degradation of the care value, it is the ethical obligation of radiologists to write or speak to support their patients. It is exceedingly important for a radiologist to understand the importance of ethics in this profession and this is the reason why he/she must have a conscience and sense of responsibility in him/her. Everyone who is related with the mentioned profession is bound by conduct rules and regulations for respecting the trust, dependence and confidence placed in them. The radiologists have the responsibility of serving as advocates of their clients/patients for giving them protection.

The attempt of "jumping the queue" has turned out to be a main ethical issue in the field of radiology and unfortunately, both the patients and physicians are involved. People have developed a habit of using personal connections for seeking health care in a timely manner and in doing so, they take prior consideration or a number of other benefits out of turn or illegally.The physicians use their positions in order to help relatives and acquaintances jump the queue and get hold of the advantages unjustly. This ethical issue needs to be strongly condemned and personal favors must be discouraged as this is an extremely unfair way as far as fairness in the job is concerned. It is the responsibility of the physicians to reassess the ethical implications to their clients, society and occupation when they are requested for queue jumping. As radiologists have accessibility to vital public goods, they must think about laws and codes and determine their strategies by reasoning clinically and morally. Thus, it is highly required of the radiologists to weigh harms and benefits of queue jumping and maintain deferential relationships with patients, relatives and others they know personally/professionally (Cunningham, Reid, MacSwain & Clarke 171).

As far as wait lists are concerned, they have also emerged as a major ethical issue in the field of radiology resulting in adverse psychological consequences for both the patients and their families. Prolonged waiting times have the tendency of interfering with the functioning of the clients/patients and going back to work. In some cases, lengthy wait have even resulted in morbidity and death. In a number of settings, the scarcities or absence of resources are made worse due to wait lists as hospital beds are occupied by patients until they get their due treatment interventions. The physicians who try their best to provide best services to the patients are also challenged by wait lists as wearisome obstructions in discharging their duties. It is the need of the time to regulate rules and regulations concerning wait lists and make useful mechanisms for making sure that fair access is offered. In additions, steps are to be taken for wait lists' tracking and evaluation (Cunningham, Reid, MacSwain & Clarke 173).

Preferential care is another ethical….....