International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine: X Ray Vision

Ionizing radiation brings significant benefits to humankind in medical uses, such as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, the use of ionizing radiation also carries a risk, and the unintended and unnecessary use of radiation in medicine should be avoided, creating the need for radiation protection implementation.

The IAEA, which plays a central role for health professionals, patients and public on the safe and effective use of radiation in medicine, is holding an international conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine — X Ray Vision, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, to review significant global developments in the radiation protection and safety of patients and health professionals, and to collaborate in identifying and addressing future challenges and opportunities.

The conference aims to bring together medical professionals, regulators, patient advocates, health researchers and others with an interest in radiation protection in medicine for topical sessions and roundtables on themes such as: justification in the use of radiation in medicine, radiation protection of patients and staff in various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and in interventional procedures, learning from unintended and accidental exposures in medicine, and strengthening radiation safety culture in healthcare.

Discussions will take into account current trends and advances in medical radiation technology and procedures and will identify future challenges and opportunities. The impact of the decade-long Bonn Call for Action, which seeks to foster coordination on strengthening radiation protection in medicine, will be also assessed in line with formulating a robust strategy for the next decade.

Objectives

• To review actions and developments to strengthen radiation protection in medicine over the last decade, especially focusing on actions taken in line with the Bonn Call for Action by all relevant parties;
• To consider the overall approach to the implementation of these actions and the harmonization of activities between international organizations and other stakeholders;
• To allow stakeholders to assess and look ahead at new developments impacting on radiation protection in medicine, so that future priorities can be formulated.

Target Audience

The conference is directed at a wide audience with an interest in radiation protection in medicine. In particular: health professionals and referring medical practitioners; physicians practising in radiological imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy;  representatives of patient organizations; health researchers, academics and communicators; regulatory authorities.

Background

The IAEA was requested by its General Conference in 1999 to organize an international conference on radiation protection of patients. This conference was held in March 2001 in Malaga, Spain, and set in motion an international action plan, guiding international efforts in patient protection.

Considering trends and developments, the IAEA decided to hold its second conference on radiation protection in medicine in 2012 in Bonn, Germany. The conference aimed to focus efforts in this area and develop a strategy for the following decade so as to maximize the positive impact of future international work. This resulted in the Bonn Call for Action.

During the five years following the Bonn conference, initiatives were taken by professional societies to form regional radiation protection campaigns. An increasing number of articles appeared in journals in the area of patient, occupational and public medical radiation protection. There were also technological advances in imaging, therapy and dosimetry equipment with a focus on radiation protection.

Five years after the Bonn conference, the progress of implementation of the Bonn Call for Action and appraisal of advances in the field was discussed at the third conference on radiation protection in medicine in 2017 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. On the topic of international cooperation emphasis was placed on the development of the Bonn Call for Action implementation toolkit, and on sharing available implementation resources created by different organizations.

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