Scenario
At a busy orthopedic clinic, the doctor is considering upgrading the imaging equipment and wants a radiographer’s opinion on whether a high-frequency generator is necessary and worth the extra cost.
Arguing for or Against the Purchase
Modern medicine offers a wide range of new helpful equipment to enhance the treatment of different disorders. Orthopedics is a broad and vital branch focused on bone and muscle diseases. As a radiographer in orthopedics, I recommend using the high-frequency generator because it presents many advantages for the medical practice. Despite its cost efficiency, the apparatus ensures improved quality of image and therapy performance (Raza et al., 2021). This statement is justified as the generator meets the radiation protection requirements (Carlton, 2019).
Ionization is dangerous, although the tool can be securely used if the professionals impose a limit on its usage (Carlton, 2019). People with access to such equipment should be grouped and protected accordingly to avoid the effects of emissions (Carlton, 2019). In such circumstances, the generator can be used during the treatment, and the doctors can be sure about its cautiousness.
Consideration in Other Settings
When it comes to working in a different setting, I would be more careful with conclusions because the dose of ionizing can be critically harmful in other medical departments. Such a tendency is caused by the vulnerability of organs checked by high-frequency generators. For instance, it is safe to acquire a portion of radiation in orthopedics, but in neuropathology, even a reduced dose may possess fatal consequences for the patients.
In this case, the ALARA principles should be followed to avoid the danger of electromagnetic waves (Raza et al., 2021). The outcomes may result in cancer or genetic effects if not followed (Carlton, 2019). They are not systematical, provoking higher chances for negative consequences caused by the rise of ionizing dozes (Carlton, 2019). Even though the personnel may be in comparatively safe conditions, vulnerable patients are in threat of radiation. I would not recommend that doctors in this setting take risks; however, the alternatives should be analyzed and used.
References
Carlton, R. (2019). Principles of radiographic imaging, 6th ed. Cengage Learning US. Web.
Raza, M., Geleit, R., Houston, J., Williams, R., & Trompeter, A. (2021). Radiation in orthopaedics (RIO) study: A national survey of UK orthopaedic surgeons. The British journal of radiology, 94. Web.