CAMRT Professional Practice and Ethics Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A radiologist asks to repeat a chest X-ray the technologist believes is diagnostic. What is the appropriate response?
- Refuse to repeat
- Respectfully discuss the concern, express professional opinion while acknowledging radiologist authority, comply with the decision (Correct answer)
- Repeat without question
- Report the radiologist
Correct answer: Respectfully discuss the concern, express professional opinion while acknowledging radiologist authority, comply with the decision
Respectful communication with recognition of complementary expertise is appropriate.
Express your opinion professionally. Engage constructively. Recognize the radiologist authority. Articulate radiation safety concerns for vulnerable patients. Document for quality improvement.
Question 2: A colleague confides they have been working while impaired by prescription medication. What are the obligations?
- Maintain confidentiality, take no action
- Report through appropriate channels as patient safety takes priority (Correct answer)
- Cover for the colleague
- Advise sick leave and keep it private
Correct answer: Report through appropriate channels as patient safety takes priority
Patient safety is paramount. An impaired practitioner poses direct risk.
Report through the supervisor, then escalate as needed. The goal is protective not punitive. Canadian law protects good-faith reporters.
Question 3: A patient requests their imaging report. What are the technologist obligations under Canadian privacy law?
- They must get the report from their physician
- Inform the patient of their right to access and direct them to the proper process (Correct answer)
- Provide the report immediately from RIS/PACS
- Reports are confidential and cannot be shared
Correct answer: Inform the patient of their right to access and direct them to the proper process
Canadian privacy legislation gives patients the right to access their health information.
Direct patients to the health records or privacy office. Do not independently retrieve reports. Provincial legislation specifies response timelines, typically 30 days.
Question 4: What ethical considerations apply when participating in research imaging?
- No additional considerations
- Ethics board approval, informed consent for research, protocol adherence, and dose justification (Correct answer)
- Only principal investigator considers ethics
- Same protocols as clinical imaging
Correct answer: Ethics board approval, informed consent for research, protocol adherence, and dose justification
Research imaging requires additional ethical safeguards including REB approval and specific consent.
All research must have REB approval per TCPS2. Participants need specific research consent. Radiation dose to healthy volunteers must be justified and within REB-approved limits.
Question 5: A colleague routinely uses exposure parameters significantly above department protocols. What action?
- Ignore the situation
- Speak with the colleague first, then report to QA lead if it continues (Correct answer)
- Immediately report to provincial authority
- Post a protocol reminder
Correct answer: Speak with the colleague first, then report to QA lead if it continues
Progressive intervention: direct communication first, then escalation to QA/supervisor if behaviour persists.
Review EI data to gather evidence. Approach non-judgmentally. Escalate with data if practice continues. CAMRT Code of Ethics requires advocacy for safe radiation practices.
Question 6: What is the ethical basis for ALARA?
- Economic efficiency
- Beneficence (doing good) and non-maleficence (do no harm) balanced with diagnostic quality (Correct answer)
- Legal liability avoidance only
- Technical guideline without ethical foundations
Correct answer: Beneficence (doing good) and non-maleficence (do no harm) balanced with diagnostic quality
ALARA is rooted in the bioethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
Non-maleficence requires minimizing radiation risk. Beneficence requires providing diagnostic information. Justice requires equitable application. Autonomy requires informed patients.
CAMRT Professional Practice and Ethics Questions and Answers 2
A radiologist asks to repeat a chest X-ray the technologist believes is diagnostic.
What is the appropriate response?