Ethical conundrum in nuclear medicine research in India

• Published in: Indian journal of nuclear medicine Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 83 - 85
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Kanhaiyalal, Meher, Bikash, Padhy, Biswa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
• Subjects: Age; Drug dosages; Ethical aspects; Ethics; Human subjects; Ionizing radiation; Laboratories; Medical ethics; Medical imaging equipment; Medical research; Morality; Nuclear energy; Nuclear medicine; Organic chemistry; Patient care; Patients; Purity; Radiation effects; Radioactive waste disposal; Radioactive wastes; Radiochemistry; Radioisotopes; Research projects; Science; Womens health; X-rays; India
• ISSN: 0972-3919; 0974-0244
• DOI: 10.4103/ijnm.IJNM_171_18

According to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) guideline, the permissible amount of radiation exposure to public is 1 mSv per year. [...]necessary checks (including creation of a networked study participant database) should be in place to prevent individuals repeatedly taking part in research projects involving radiation. Always pH, radionuclide purity, radiochemical purity, chemical purity, and sterility should be checked before human administration of radiopharmaceutical under investigation. [...]proper disposal of radioactive waste by laboratories conducting radiopharmaceutical research should be done as per the AERB guidelines. Any research involving radiation should be justifiable and must be planned in such a way that it should confer maximum benefits without causing substantial risks to the participants or the population at large.