Introduction to Justification in the Use of Radiation in Medicine

The balance of benefit and risk from medical exposures is considered at three levels of justification. Generic justification at International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) level 2 has been the focus of much work and interest globally, with a number of tools available to improve the process of justification by referring and radiological practitioners. This forms part of a larger move to improve the system of benefit–risk assessment, which takes in three key steps: awareness, appropriateness and audit (the 'three As'). Awareness of this assessment is frequently portrayed in the media as a cost issue but health professionals correctly see the bigger picture of good medical practice and radiation safety as the two main criteria for selection of the best test first, before cost effectiveness. The balance of health benefit against radiation risk in a justified medical procedure is almost invariably in favour of the benefit. Radiological procedures can be life saving