ABSTRACT

CH A P T E 4 Radiation Protection in Medicine (Medical Health Physics) Richard J. Vetter Mayo College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA

Magdalena S. Stoeva Publication Committee, International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP)

MEDICAL PHYSICS is the science associated with the accuracy, safety,and quality of the use of radiation in medical procedures including med-ical imaging and radiation therapy. Various chapters in this book focus on the safe use of radiation in specific areas of medicine. This chapter is intended to review the scientific literature of radiation protection in medicine, to provide readers with a brief background in the development of safety practices and the science of radiation protection in medicine. This review is not intended to be exhaustive because such a review would occupy several book volumes. Rather, this chapter, based on an earlier review by Vetter (2005), is intended to provide readers with an appreciation for the worldwide effort of scientists and practitioners to protect healthcare providers, members of the public, and patients from unwarranted radiation exposure in medicine, a science often referred to as medical health physics. Readers are referred to subsequent chapters in this book for specific guidance on safe use of radiation in medicine.