Protection of carers and comforters in medical radiation exposure

Persons responsible for regulated material have obligations towards protecting carers and comforters.

A ‘carer or comforter’ is a person who is voluntarily exposed to ionising radiation while supporting or caring for a patient exposed to ionising radiation as part of the patient’s medical diagnosis or treatment.

Carers and comforters are categorised as ‘medically exposed persons’ in the Protection from Harmful Radiation Regulation 2025, so the dose limits specified for ‘occupationally exposed persons’ and ‘members of the public’ outlined in Schedule 4 of the Regulation are not applicable to them.

However, persons responsible for regulated material who hold a radiation management licence have obligations toward carers and comforters.

A radiation management licensee must comply with ‘responsible person’ obligations in the Code for Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure as a condition of licence and in the preparation of radiation management plans.

The Medical Exposure Code requires the justification and optimisation of radiation exposure in respect of all persons exposed to radiation as a result of a licensee’s activities, whether an occupationally exposed person, a member of the public, a patient, or a carer or comforter.

Section 3.1.3 of the Medical Exposure Code requires that:

“The Responsible Person must ensure that no individual receives a medical exposure as a carer or comforter unless he or she has received, and has indicated an understanding of, relevant information on radiation protection and information on the radiation risks prior to providing care and comfort to an individual undergoing a radiological procedure.”

A carer or comforter’s consent must be given and documented.

Section 3.2.21 of the Medical Exposure Code requires that:

“The Responsible Person must ensure that dose constraints of 1 mSv per diagnostic radiological examination and 5 mSv per course of therapeutic treatment are used in the optimisation of protection and safety in any radiological procedure in which an individual acts as a carer or comforter.”

Section 3.3.5 of the Medical Exposure Code requires that:

“The Responsible Person must ensure that there are arrangements in place to ensure compliance with the dose limit for members of the public and a dose constraint of 5 mSv per course of treatment for carers and comforters before a patient is released following radionuclide therapy.”

Requirements for radiation management plans in the Medical Exposure Code require that a plan must contain:

• procedures for applying dose constraints with respect to carers and comforters, and
• the measures to be applied to ensure appropriate radiation protection for members of the public and for carers and comforters before a patient is released following radionuclide therapy.

Penalties apply for failing to comply with licence conditions or requirements for radiation management plans.