THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DECISION MAKING AND ITS RELEVANCE TO RADIATION PROTECTION OF THE PATIENT IN MEDICINE

An analysis and review of the fundamental psychological basis of decision making has been undertaken in respect of radiation protection of the patient in medicine. Both clinical and scientific aspects of patient protection have been considered. Every stage of the clinical process of radiological examinations, from referral through to diagnostic outcome, has been shown to be subject to proven psychological effects including biases, framing, anchoring and prospect theory, which deals with perceived gains and losses. Such factors also influence the scientific aspects of radiation protection of the patient. Justification for the use of single dose reference level (DRL) values has employed framing with substitution or manipulation by accessibility in order to promote their usefulness. The use of DRLs as presently proposed constrains a diverse patient population to a reference or representative person. This approach is shown to represent a public health initiative that largely ignores the ethical basis of patient protection inherent in the Hippocratic Oath.