[Risk management from the perspective of the radiation protection officer. Consequences of new radiation protection laws in hospitals].

The implications of the new radiation protection law for hospitals. The novel German radiation control regulation ("Roentgenverordnung") came into effect on July 1, 2002. It contains a number of new rules the majority of which clearly take a more restrictive approach towards the application of ionising radiation. New dose thresholds have been set for control and monitoring areas and written working instructions are now required for all areas of radiology departments. The new regulations also require the indication for a radiological examination to be checked by a radiologist who has completed a formalised training in radiation protection. This particular aspect will have serious implications for every day practice. The necessity of having a trained radiologist on site for 24 hours a day will cause problems in many hospitals. The power of the responsible external independent control body ("ärztliche Stelle") has been increased as have the duties of medical physicists. The performance of x-ray examinations that are not medically indicated is punishable by law as bodily harm. This as well as many other regulations are currently being checked for applicability in terms of guidelines, the majority of which are not yet available.