Talk about risks of radiation in medical imaging

The fast evaluation of a stroke patient’s CT scan is crucial for a well-timed therapy decision -- Copyright Schering AG (please credit)

THERE is a lack of understanding among the general public in Malaysia about radiation, with many perceiving it as dangerous. Such perceptions are reinforced when they hear or read about the effects of accidents in nuclear power plant like Chernobyl and Fukushima.

We have a huge problem with communication about radiation because we use too much jargon. There is also a lot of misinformation about this subject on the Internet.