New Regulation on Radioactive
Materials for Medical Use
May 3, 2002- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
issued its final revised regulations on the medical uses of
radioactive material in the April 24 Federal Register
[67
FR 20249]. Licensees must implement the new requirements
by Oct. 24, 2002.
The NRC describes the regulation as "risked-informed,"
placing additional emphasis on higher associated risks and
radiation safety for workers, patients, their families, and
the public, while eliminating some previous requirements from
lower-risk medical diagnostic procedures such as bone or thyroid
scans. The regulation sets forth new requirements for patient
notification and reporting of "medical events" (e.g.,
administration of radioactive materials in a manner that differs
substantially from the physician's direction).
The NRC is the federal government's lead agency regulating
the use of radioactive byproducts in medical diagnosis, treatment,
and research-uses that the agency estimates involve about
eleven million patients a year. Publication of the final regulations
culminates five years of agency review and will result in
extensive and sweeping changes for hospitals, laboratories,
and clinics and other organizations licensed to use radioactive
materials.
Additional information about the rule, and workshops for
licensees, are available from the NRC.
Information: Roger W. Broseus,
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 301-415-7608.
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