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What is the Importance of Professionalism and Ethics in the Field of Nuclear Medicine?

What is the Importance of Professionalism and Ethics in the Field of Nuclear Medicine?


Medicine is one of the most important sciences on Earth. There may be no doubts about the fact that presence or absence of professional approach on the part of a doctor frequently becomes a matter of whether or not a person will live or die. The question of professional ethics in medicine is also a significant issue. Fortunately, we have the laws, according to which doctors who act not in accordance with their professional code of Ethics can be punished for that. However, unfortunately, when the punishment is necessary, it is usually already impossible to save a life or health of a patient, who suffered from someone's imprudence. This paper is devoted to the question of what is the importance of professionalism and ethics in the field of nuclear medicine. It will speak about what is nuclear medicine, what does it do, what are the specifics of this field of medicine, and why is it important for people working in the area of nuclear medicine make sure that they are acting ethically and professionally. Besides, this paper is accompanied by visual aids, which permit a reader to get a better understanding of the subject researched in this paper.

First of all, it is necessary to define what nuclear medicine is, and what its purposes are. Today it is an area of medicine, which uses radiation for the purpose of getting data about functioning of human organs. With the help of nuclear medicine analysis it is quite easy to see bones, liver, heart, thyroid, etc. and the information retrieved with the help of this analysis gives physician an opportunity to make a rather accurate diagnosis promptly. Besides it is used to treat some diseased organs and even tumors. According to the researchers, "In developed countries (26% of world population) the frequency of diagnostic nuclear medicine is 1.9% per year, and the frequency of therapy with radioisotopes is about one tenth of this. The use of radiopharmaceuticals in diagnosis is growing at over 10% per year". (<http://www.uic.com.au/nip26.htm>) This means that quite a large percentage of people are using services, which nuclear medicine is able to suggest. Therefore, importance of ethical behavior and professional approach of physicians, working in this field, is critically important. These two factors are the main determinants of success in diagnostics and treatment, which patients are looking forward to receive, when turning to nuclear medicine departments.

In order to ensure that the process of work in the field of nuclear medicine is appropriate, professional and ethical, Technologist Section and the Society of Nuclear Medicine at the 2004 Annual Meeting developed a specific Code of Ethics for the nuclear medicine technologist. It consists of seven principles, which are going to be explained gradually in the paper. These principles are also available for readers’ convenience, as the power point presentation, which accompanies this research paper. These principles of the code are not laws; however they were designed as special standards of performance, which nuclear medicine technologies are expected to follow. All these principles demonstrate that professionalism and ethical approach are interconnected and one is not possible without another.

"Principle 1: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will provide services with compassion and respect for the dignity of the individual and with the intent to provide the highest quality of patient care."
This principle reflects not only the necessity to show respect for individual. It basically promotes a professional approach to the patient. In order to perform a professional diagnosis or treatment, it is necessary to be interested in providing the highest quality of care. Otherwise, an approach will not reflect professional achievement and, therefore, will be less likely to show satisfactory results. Besides, if the patient is not treated with compassion and respect for his dignity, he may feel threatened and be less open to cooperation with a physician. This may lead to impossibility or significant complications in carrying out a correct diagnosis, and providing sufficient and successful treatment.

"Principle 2: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will provide care without discrimination regarding the nature of the illness or disease, gender, race, religion, sexual preference or socioeconomic status of the patient."
This principle also refers to the necessity to provide ethical care, first of all, due to the fact that it will facilitate a professional practice. It is necessary for a physician, who works with a patient, not to discriminate regarding the nature of illness, since, by doing so he would basically discriminate himself as a professional. If he discriminates on the basis of the nature of illness or disease and, for example, refuses to cure it, he does not take advantage of an opportunity to develop his professionalism in the field of curing this particular illness with this particular nature. Similarly, when a nuclear medicine technologist discriminates on the basis of gender, race, religion and sexual preferences, he not only makes it impossible to perform professional practice, but also breaks the oath of Hippocrates, which every one, who works in the field of medicine, is giving before they are eligible to begin their practice. This is extremely dangerous, since it may lead to serious difficulties with health of innocent people, who have become victims of unethical and unprofessional behavior of a physician.

"Principle 3: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will maintain strict patient confidentiality in accordance with state and federal regulations. "
It is necessary for a physician, who works in the field of nuclear medicine, to follow this principle due to several reasons, which include, but are not limited to the following. Confidentiality has to be maintained, since otherwise, a patient might not be eager to acknowledge the fact of his disease, refuse to go through diagnostics and receive treatment. This creates threats to patient's health and life. At the same time, some illnesses and diseases may be dangerous for people, who surround a patient, who is not eager to treat his illness. In this case, we see that failure to follow a simple ethical principle may result in a significant worsening of the overall health state of a population.

"Principle 4: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will comply with the laws, regulations, and policies governing the practice of nuclear medicine."
It is obvious that it is significantly important that this principle is respected and followed by physicians working in the field of nuclear medicine. This principle of the code of ethics is one of the most essential ones, and is not just a suggestion, but an absolute requirement of every practitioner. It is critical that all the laws and regulation about nuclear medicine are followed. This is relevant to the regular medical practice of a physician in a nuclear medicine department, as well as to the scientific experiments, carried out with the help of nuclear medicine, like human cloning, for example.

"Principle 5: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will continually strive to improve their knowledge and technical skills."
Fifth principle, listed in this code of ethics, refers more to the professional development, which is certainly closely connected to the practice performed. There may be no doubts about the necessity for a nuclear medicine technologist to improve his skills constantly. The field of nuclear medicine is constantly developing its technologies and opening new ways and approaches toward diagnostics and curing of diseases. Compliance with this principle assures that patients receive the most progressive, competent, and effective treatment.

"Principle 6: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will not engage in fraud, deception, or criminal activities."
This principle is basically a restatement of the forth principle, which claims that a nuclear medicine technologist must comply with the state laws and regulations regarding nuclear medicine. This principle assures that a physician will work for the benefit of a patient, rather than for his own one. It is important that physicians follow this principle, since it may frequently be connected with safety of a patient.

"Principle 7: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will be an advocate for their profession."
This last, but not least, principle is also one of the most significant ones. It is extremely important, that each practitioner feels and takes the responsibility for the whole industry. He/she must be conscious and aware of the fact that he/she is a representative of the field of nuclear medicine, and medicine in general. It is important that they follow six principles listed above, even if just in order to complete this last one.

The research and analysis, provided by the paper, widely demonstrates the importance of professionalism and ethics in the field of nuclear medicine. Besides, it clearly demonstrates that professionalism and ethical behavior are interconnected and depend on each other. Professional and ethical approach in the field of nuclear medicine is of a great importance to all patients who are taking advantage of it.




Works Cited:
1. Code of Ethics: For the Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. September 8, 2006. Retrieved from: <http://www.nmtcb.org/CodeOfEthics.shtml>.
2. Radioisotopes in Medicine. Nuclear Issues Briefing Paper 26. February 2006. Uranium Information Centre Ltd. September 9, 2006 retrieved from <http://www.uic.com.au/nip26.htm>.
3. What is Nuclear Medicine? Society of Nuclear Medicine. September 9, 2006 retrieved from <http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=3106&RPID=924>.
4. General Nuclear Medicine. Radiology Info. September 9, 2006 retrieved from <http://radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=gennuclear#1>.
5. Human Cloning. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. September 9, 2006 retrieved from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning>.
Nuclear Medicine. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. September 9, 2006 retrieved from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_medicine>.

All principles (1 through 7) listed below in the paper are taken from: Code of Ethics: For the Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. September 8, 2006. Retrieved from: <http://www.nmtcb.org/CodeOfEthics.shtml>.

Posted by: SANDBERG FAITH SMITH

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