Question:
Can a woman work as a radiology tech when she is pregnant?

Answer:
Only if the following safety steps are taken. First, she should inform her supervisor because they are supposed to limit her exposure to certain areas (especially if she works in a hospital facility where there are a variety of areas assigned to the technologists for coverage). It is ultimately up to them to protect her as much as they can and allow her to still function in her position efficiently.

Provided that her supervisor is aware of the pregnancy, a female technologist should request an additional radiation badge to wear at waist level so the radiation exposure to the fetus is measured accurately.

A pregnant technologist should never hold a patient for any examination, and additional lead shielding should be used in any emergency room portables or operating room procedures.

In all cases, she should take it upon herself to be as far away from the radiation as possible.

Submit health questions online at
www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/ questions/qa.cfm.

All submissions will remain anonymous. Your e-mail address is removed, so UHS does not know who the sender is and can only respond through The Daily Collegian.

This column is not intended to replace advice from your personal clinician. If conditions persist, see a clinician.