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Case 2

A CT thorax, with IV injection of a contrast medium, was requested for on an old lady. However, having previously read the patient's case history, demonstrating that the patient had previously been diagnosed with an abdominal tumour, the radiographer misunderstood the examination to be an upper abdominal scan and scanned the liver after IV injection, not the thorax. Consequently, the examination had to be repeated, thus increasing the radiation dose and the volume of contrast agent to be injected.

On viewing the images, the radiologist discovered the error and he decided that the examination had to be repeated. The radiologist told the radiographer to inform the patient that she had to have the examination again to observe her thorax more clearly. The radiographer mentioned that another injection containing contrast agent would be performed and the risks were explained again.

What are the ethical issues pertaining to this case?