Kimberly Applegate, MD, PhD, FACR represented the American College of Radiology recently on a health-provider stakeholders panel at the North American Regional Conference on the Evolution of the System of Radiation Protection. The conference, sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), was intended to generate dialogue on the current draft of developing ICRP recommendations on radiation protection. Other attendees at the two day stakeholders' symposium held in Bethesda, MD, included radiation protection professionals, regulators, industry and scientists.

Dr. Applegate commented on the diagnostic reference levels described in the ICRP recommendations, noting that reference levels should not be taken as absolute limits. She further recommended that diagnostic reference levels be 1) established by professional medical bodies, 2) specific to a country or region and 3) reviewed and revised as technology, utilization and practices change.

Dr. Applegate also commented that any proposed changes to the ICRP recommendations and future US and state regulations should carefully consider any potential detrimental impact to patient care, including costs of patient care, before the recommendations are finalized.

The ICRP recommendations are expected to be finalized in 2007 and will be considered by governments throughout the world for integration into their radiation safety regulations.

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