Question

An X-ray set fails to terminate properly during a chest X-ray examination because of automatic exposure control (AEC) ***. However, the back-up timer works and an investigation revealed that the patient received an unintended dose of ten times that intended. Which of the following statements are correct?

a. It is necessary to inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

b. It is necessary to inform the Healthcare Commission

c. The patient must not be informed of the incident

d. A record of the investigation must be kept for 50 years

e. The equipment should not be put back into use until the service engineer checks the equipment

Answer 1

a. False. Regulation 23: if a patient has received a dose much greater than intended as a result of a defect or fault of the equipment, the HSE should be informed. A much greater than intended dose is defined as a multiplying factor of the intended dose in different types of examination. For chest X-ray, a dose of 20 times the intended dose is defined as much greater than intended.

b. False. If the overexposure is secondary to equipment ***, the HSE should be informed.

c. False. The patient could be informed. However, when the dose is below the limit, it is not necessary to inform the patient.

d. False. A record of assessment must be kept for 2 years.

e. True.