The use of a lead apron in the x-ray room is quite common. However, despite decades of use, is it really necessary? The New York Times published a story in January explaining how organizations are trying to end this practice.

Everyone who knows how an X-ray scan works is already prepared for the lead apron; however, new thinking has emerged and radiologists and medical physicists within some hospitals are ending this “ritual” during imaging exams. The attitude is due to statements by prominent medical and scientific groups who said that the measure of well-being can damage the quality of diagnostic tests and even inadvertently increase a patient’s radiation exposure.

The fear of radiation isn’t recent and is already rooted in the collective psyche, meaning that the news surprises people. In April, the US physicists’ association recommended discontinuing routine practice and was supported by American College of Radiology and the Image Gently Alliance. In the same period Food and Drug Administration proposed removing the federal code from a 1970s recommendation for the use of armor.

As of now, guidance to regulatory bodies is expected, mainly from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (in the USA) and a declaration of support for the interruption of patient protection.

The protection of health professionals working in the areas of imaging tests remains, so that they have job security. To access the entire news click here.