Radiation Safety When a Patient Dies After Therapy

Abstract

Objective: When a patient dies a short time after radionuclide therapy, several issues arise due to the shifting of responsibility from patient care to protection of the public, while respecting societal values and rites. Such a situation occurred in our institution after administering a large therapeutic dose of ¹³¹I for metastatic thyroid cancer. The requirements of safe practice, the shift of accountability, the ethical aspects and forthcoming changes in the regulatory constraints are discussed.