ASN defines the quality assurance requirements for certain medical practices that use ionising radiation

In France, medical applications represent the primary source of artificial exposures of the public to ionising radiation. This medical exposure is increasing, mainly due to the increased number of examinations using computed tomography CT scanners. In order to control the doses delivered to patients undergoing medical imaging examinations, and thereby contribute to enhanced safety for the patients, ASN is defining new quality assurance requirements in medical imaging.

ASN resolution 2019-DC-0660 of 15 January 2019 defines the quality assurance requirements for medical imaging involving ionising radiation, that is to say in nuclear medicine for diagnostic purposes, in dental and conventional radiology, in computed tomography and for fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices. It obliges the person responsible for the nuclear activity to define a quality management system and to provide details:

• on the processes, procedures and work instructions associated with operational implementation of the two general radiation protection principles, namely justification of procedures and optimisation of doses;
• on the experience feedback process, by stepping up the recording and analysis of events that could lead to accidental or unintentional exposure of persons during medical imaging procedures.

This resolution enables the quality management system to be scaled to the radiological risks inherent to medical imaging activities and the radiation protection issues.

ASN moreover asks the medical professionals to produce guides to facilitate application of this resolution in each medical imaging facility, by adapting the content and form of the quality management system to the risks induced by the activities practised.

Resolution 2019-DC-0660 of 15 January 2019 setting the quality assurance requirements for medical imaging procedures that use ionising radiation was approved by order of the Minister responsible for Health on 8 February 2019 and published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. It will enter into force on 1 July 2019.