Off Topic - need information on lead aprons and x-rays

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I hope you don’t mind my putting an off-topic post here but I could use some

help from the experts out there.

Yesterday afternoon, I got a call from the school to say that my son had been

injured playing soccer and had been taken to the small local hospital nearby. I

drove out there (with my homoeopathic kit in tow and administered arnica as soon

as I arrived J). He was sitting on the bed with an ice-pack on his hand for the

swelling, awaiting an x-ray.

Almost as soon as I got there, the x-ray tech came in and said, come through to

the x-ray machine. I was there but was completely ignored (my son is 14 years

old – that is old enough in NSW to make medical decisions, but I would have

thought that you still would have acknowledged a parent just as a matter of

courtesy?).

I followed them to the room and just as the x-ray tech was about the close the

door, I just said, “Are you going to use a lead apron?” I asked this because

when my other son broke his arm, I had to request this – they don’t do it

routinely any more for some reason.

The tech looked at me like I was crazy and said “No.”

I said to him, “I would really like you to use a lead apron please”. Very

politely, I think.

He said to me, “You are trying to tell me how to do my job!”

I replied, “No, I am not. I am a mother concerned for her child and I would like

you to use a lead apron please.”

Again, he said, “No.”

I asked “Will the apron interfere with the images you get?”

And he said, “No.”

So I repeated again, “Then I would like you to use a lead apron please.”

And, as he closed the door in my face, he said, “I HATE people who try to tell

me how to do my job!”

I waited outside for about 15 minutes until they came out and my son, who was

very embarrassed by my behaviour (I never raised my voice, and my words were

just as written above) assured me that he did, in fact, use a lead apron.

So, I am really pissed off – I can’t tell you how much! And I will be writing a

letter to the board of this hospital.

But what I want to know is, why are lead aprons not used routinely any more. And

is there any reason NOT to use one?

Also, while doing a quick search of the internet, I found sites regarding

veterinary x-rays. It appears that it is a requirement that lead aprons be used

at ALL TIMES when doing x-rays on animals. In fact, it is required that lead

aprons used in veterinary x-rays be replaced every 12 months. Why are we being

more careful with our pets then we our with our children?

If anyone has any information to share about this, please let me know.

All the best,

Meryl

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3:59 PM

[Guest guest]

I have no info for you. I have heard that x-rays can be very harmful. I'm

assuming the lead apron helps? What does the lead apron do to minimize the

harmful effects of the x-ray?

Holly

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[Guest guest]

thanks. I can't remember the last time I had an x-ray. I see now that the

apron covers the other areas of the body that are not getting x-rayed. Thanks

Holly

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[Guest guest]

the xray cannot penetrate lead, thearfore protecting the area of the body

covered with the lead apron

mensrea320@... wrote: I have no info for you. I have heard that

x-rays can be very harmful. I'm

assuming the lead apron helps? What does the lead apron do to minimize the

harmful effects of the x-ray?

Holly

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

[Guest guest]

In the OR we are taught to use lead aprons, skirts or thyroid shields to protect

the thyroid and reproductive organs from being damaged. They don't always cover

the patient though.

Re: Off Topic - need information on lead aprons and

x-rays

thanks. I can't remember the last time I had an x-ray. I see now that the

apron covers the other areas of the body that are not getting x-rayed. Thanks

Holly

************ ********* ********* ******** See what's new at http://www.aol. com

[Guest guest]

I was interested to learn that Jane Tomlinson, the lady who raised huge

amounts of money for cancer research while terminally ill with breast

cancer, used to be a paediatric radiographer. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Sue

>*>

>*> In the OR we are taught to use lead aprons, skirts or

>*> thyroid shields to protect the thyroid and reproductive

>*> organs from being damaged. They don't always cover the

>*> patient though.

>*>

>*>

[Guest guest]

I always wonder about this.

I once had a full set of x-rays for employment, and

the technician screwed up the first set. I was very

upset, but the technician told me to shut up or she

would tell the employer that I was not cooperating. I

went through with the second set, but I wonder if I

should have walked out, and went to the employer and

complained about the incompetent work that was done on

me, and then requested to go to my own chiropractor

instead.

That was 30 years ago. I still wonder about that.

--- m2m <mum2mishka@...> wrote:

> I was interested to learn that Jane Tomlinson, the

> lady who raised huge

> amounts of money for cancer research while

> terminally ill with breast

> cancer, used to be a paediatric radiographer. Makes

> you wonder, doesn't it?

>

> Sue

>

> >*>

> >*> In the OR we are taught to use lead aprons,

> skirts or

> >*> thyroid shields to protect the thyroid and

> reproductive

> >*> organs from being damaged. They don't always

> cover the

> >*> patient though.

> >*>

> >*>

>

>

Maureen R. Gradvohl

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

I also read somewhere that the radiologists suffer the highest rate of

miscarriages in the medical field....

Laurie

I was interested to learn that Jane Tomlinson, the lady who raised huge

amounts of money for cancer research while terminally ill with breast

cancer, used to be a paediatric radiographer. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

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