Ethical considerations related to radiosensitivity and radiosusceptibility

Abstract

Purpose: The potential for individual radiosensitivity and radiosusceptibility testing, both in clinical practice and in systems of radiological protection, raises complex ethical considerations which must be addressed both in relation to the scientific research looking at the issues themselves, and in relation to any systems of safety and protection which are then proposed for introduction. Methods: This paper uses ethical principles for radiological protection derived by the ICRP together with other biomedical principles, to identify and evaluate some of the ethical issues associated with radiosensitivity testing. Results and conclusions: Although the evaluation is not exhaustive, it illustrates a range of different ethical aspects that would need to be considered, prior to making recommendations for how the field might better address these challenges in its future development.