After months without them, staff and doctors in the radiology department of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, have been provided Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLD) — the badges helping measure radiation
After months without them, staff and doctors in the radiology department of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, have been provided Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLD) — the badges helping measure radiation.
The lacuna had been revealed in an RTI query filed by a former student of the hospital, who also gave a written complaint to it, after mid-day brought to light the plight of resident doctors forced to work without the badges, (Missing protective badges expose medical students to radiation,’ August 1). The badges are required to measure high radiation exposure, which can cause cancer.
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Staff are exposed to harmful radiation while doing X-Rays, CT scans, and sonography. So radiologists are provided with the badge to keep a tab on the radiation levels they are exposed to. Rays stimulate the electrons in it and the energy gets stored in the badge. Every three months, the badges are sent to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for analysis of the radiation.
“Now, all students and people working in the radiology department have been provided with the badges. After every three months, they are sent for analysis of the radiation. But often students don’t come forward for the badges. There hasn’t been any instance where a student has approached us for badges and we haven’t provided them,” said TP Lahane, dean of the college.
However, as per RTI documents available with mid-day, the cardiology and orthopaedic departments are yet to get the badges. When asked if the badges are available with everyone in the departments, Dr Varsha Rathi, head of the department of X-Ray replied in the negative.
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