STRENGTHENING ETHICS IN RADIATION PROTECTION: A REVIEW OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) 2022 POLICY

Abstract

Medical imaging is vital in modern healthcare, yet its radiation protection practices have historically centered on scientific and technical principles, often overlooking explicit ethical considerations. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed the formal integration of ethics as a fourth independent pillar. This paper reviews WHO’s policy brief, analysing its rationale, framework and implementation strategies. Drawing on literature, policy documents and ethical theory, the review finds that the proposal aims to embed core bioethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice into routine imaging decisions. It emphasizes education, policy reform, governance alignment and culture change as essential components of this integration. While the framework offers a holistic shift toward more patient-centered and ethically sound imaging practices, it also presents challenges such as variable ethical norms across cultures, potential resistance from practitioners and a lack of measurable ethical indicators. The paper concludes that WHO’s proposal is a timely and necessary step in aligning radiological protection with broader trends in patient-centered care and medical ethics. However, its success depends on multi-level collaboration, clear implementation pathways and ongoing evaluation. When fully realized, the ethics pillar has the potential to strengthen trust, improve patient outcomes and ensure radiological practices uphold both scientific integrity and moral responsibility.