Running head: Code of Ethics!

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Code of Ethics !
Alysia Bang !
Argosy University-Twin Cities!
Code of Ethics Research Paper!
Clinical Training I!
Julie Yagsar!
8/12/15!
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Code of Ethics!
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In the field of Radiation Therapy there is a Code of Ethics. Its a list of items that a radia-

tion therapist should always follow in their career. The Radiation Therapy Code of Ethics is a list
of five items. I have personally seen them all being utilized in the clinic where Im doing my training.!
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The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has a Radiation Therapist Code of

Ethics that has five items. They are as follows:!

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1. The radiation therapist advances the principal objective of the profession to provide

services to humanity with full respect for the dignity of mankind. !

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2. The radiation therapist delivers patient care and service unrestricted by concerns of

personal attributes or the nature of the disease or illness, and without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, or socioeconomic status. !
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3. The radiation therapist assesses situations; exercises care, discretion and judgement;

assumes responsibility for professional decisions and acts in the best interest of the patient. !
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4. The radiation therapist adheres to the tenets and domains of the scope of practice for

radiation therapists. !
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5. The radiation therapist actively engages in lifelong learning to maintain, improve and

enhance professional competence and knowledge. (ASRT, 1998) !

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The first code means that the radiation therapist will treat every person as though they

are that; a person. Each person should still have some quality of life. That is the purpose of radiation therapy. They should be able to keep their dignity while being on treatment. We have a
job to do but we do it respectfully. We respect the patients and their wishes. !
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The second code means that the radiation therapist will treat every person the same. We

do not judge the person based on their sex, religion, or anything else. We respect their wishes
based on their gender, religion, or otherwise. We do not discriminate. We are to treat them all
with the utmost respect. !

Code of Ethics!
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The third code means that the radiation therapist will always do what is best for the pa-

tient. Therapists act as a sort of patient advocate. We need to assess the patients since we are
the ones that see them everyday. We need to make judgement calls. For example, if a patient
really isnt feeling well, we need to assess if we should be treating them or if they should talk to
the doctor beforehand. We dont speak about the patients out in the hall to everyone. We use
discretion. We also assume responsibility for the discretion and judgement calls we make. !
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The fourth code means that the radiation therapist will follow the Scope of Practice as

provided by the ASRT. Its a specific list of the practice of radiation therapy. It contains items
that the therapist should be practicing (ASRT, 2011). One example is ALARA, which means as
low as reasonably achievable (ASRT, 2011). We are to deliver the least amount of dose possible
to still get the job done. The ALARA concept is just one example of a long list of items detailing
the responsibilities of a radiation therapist. !
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The fifth code means that the radiation therapist will continue to learn. We must continue

our education. We have to get 24 continuing education credits every two years. We must abide
by this to keep our licensure. On top of it being required, we should want to continue to grow in
this field. The equipment we use is evolving everyday and we need to keep learning in order to
keep up with the changing technology. We want to be able to provide the best therapy we can.
In order to do that we must continue to learn and grow with it. !
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The first code is demonstrated in my clinical training often times based on the person

and the stage of their disease. Sometimes patients are very difficult and it is our duty to be respectful and try to understand that they are going through something difficult. They should maintain their dignity throughout this treatment. We should respect them, make sure they are as
comfortable as can be, and answer any questions without judgement. We should want to help
them. The therapist I work with are very good at making every patient feel equally cared for, respected, and dignified no matter what side effects, symptoms, or attitudes they are displaying. I

Code of Ethics!

find that it isnt too difficult to work with difficult patients or patients of any mannerisms for that
matter. I worked with special education for a couple of years. That has given me a whole new
take on patience. I will continue to use what I have learned in my previous jobs about patience,
respect, and dignity in my future career as a radiation therapist. !
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The second code is demonstrated in my clinical training quite often. We treat people of

all races, religions, sexes, and people of all socioeconomic statuses. I am in a clinic that is very
diverse. We treat a lot of people that can only come by bike, or bus. We treat a lot of people that
are on medical aid to get through their treatments. We treat many people that do not speak English. We never judge them we just figure out the best way to get them their treatment while respecting them and their needs. I dont think I will have trouble using this in my career. I have
been fortunate enough to treat people from different countries at my clinical site. It hasnt been a
problem so far and Im excited to continue to work with diverse patients. !
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The third code is demonstrated in my clinical training at both of the sites I work at. I work

at one site with more advanced equipment and another site with lower socioeconomic status
patients and less advanced equipment. We have to use a lot of judgement at the one site I work
at. A lot of times patients come in with very advanced diseases and they are very sick. Some
days we have to make a judgement call if they just cant lay still to be treated. Treatment is very
precise and we have to do a good job of keeping them in place. I will use this in my future career when it comes to patients that arent feeling well or tolerating treatment well. I will always
make sure they are able to see a doctor before we treat them if they need to. I will always use
discretion when discussing patients with doctors, nurses, or other therapists. They deserve the
respect that we would give to anyone we care about. !
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The fourth code is demonstrated in my clinical training whenever we take images. A lot

of times we have to enter in the number of monitor units to deliver in order to achieve a good
image while still limiting the dose. The therapists really practice the rule of ALARA (ASRT, 2011).

Code of Ethics!

I will continue on as they have taught me by delivering the lowest possible dose. ALARA is just
one example. I will continue to follow the Scope of Practice for radiation therapy. Ill be a part of
ASRT so it will be easy to read the Scope of Practice often and remind myself of the tasks I
should be carrying out as a radiation therapist. !
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The fifth code is demonstrated in my clinical training very frequently. The therapists I

work with are always telling each other about things they heard from other clinics, other doctors,
news articles, and magazines. They are always interested in learning new things, not just because they are required to. I like the environment Im in because of that. They arent set in their
ways and they constantly try to learn new things. In my future career as a radiation therapist, I
will strive to be like the therapists Im currently working with. I find all of the articles and stories I
read fascinating. I dont think it will be a problem for me to want to constantly learn new things
about this field. It is a fast paced environment and we have to grow with it. !
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Im learning something new about the field of radiation therapy every single day. Im

learning something new about myself every single day. This field has made me grow as a person. Its made me realize how involved radiation therapy is. I realize now that a radiation therapist has so many jobs all rolled into one. I am excited to continue to learn and grow until Im no
longer able to work. I am fascinated by this field and I love learning all about it. I will utilize both
the Code of Ethics and the Scope of Practice throughout my clinical training and throughout my
career. !

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Code of Ethics!

References!
ASRT (American Society of Radiologic Technologists). (July, 1998). Code of Ethics. Retrieved !
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from http://www.asrt.org/docs/default-source/practice-standards/rtcodeofethics.pdf!

ASRT (American Society of Radiologic Technologists). (June 19, 2011). Radiation Therapist !
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Scope of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.asrt.org/docs/default-source/practice-!

standards-published/ps_rt.pdf?sfvrsn=2!