Genetic Damage From Diagnostic Radiation

Abstract

To the Editor.— article entitled Genetic Damage From Diagnostic Radiation (237:2399-2401, 1977) makes interesting reading. authors (Bross and Natarajan) attack dogma that is often cited by radiologists who claim that diagnostic radiation is and imply that an attitude of of sight, out of mind is a radiological precept. I for one was not taught that diagnostic radiation is harmless and have not taught it myself. Most of my radiologic colleagues and many of our predecessors would make the same claim. As long ago as 1928, the second International Congress of Radiology at Stockholm adopted recommendations made by the British x-ray and radium protection committee ( Acta Radiol , suppl 3, part 1, 1928, pp 62-73). The suggestions are now to form the basis by which doctors and engineers will be guided in making their departments safe for patients and staff. 1 Note that it is not staff