Radiation safety: pregnant worker: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Radiation safety: pregnant worker

Sample item

A radiographer informs the department that she is pregnant. Which approach is correct?

AContinue work in areas that keep fetal dose well within regulatory limits, with a foetal dosimeter and no fluoroscopy room duties if exposure is uncertainBContinue with no change as radiation workers receive no fetal riskCRequire abortionDDismiss her from work immediately

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Continue work in areas that keep fetal dose well within regulatory limits, with a foetal dosimeter and no fluoroscopy room duties if exposure is uncertain

Once pregnancy is declared, the dose to the fetus is limited to about 1 mSv for the remainder of the pregnancy, with extra monitoring. She can continue working with appropriate placement and shielding. Termination is not indicated for such low occupational doses.

Option by option

A. Continue work in areas that keep fetal dose well within regulatory limits, with a foetal dosimeter and no fluoroscopy room duties if exposure is uncertain (correct)
Correct. Reassign duties and monitor to keep fetal dose very low.
B. Continue with no change as radiation workers receive no fetal risk
Fetal protection still applies after declaration.
C. Require abortion
Termination is never recommended for occupational doses far below the threshold for harm.
D. Dismiss her from work immediately
Dismissal is not required if dose limits can be met.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Continue work in areas that keep fetal dose well within regulatory limits, with a foetal dosimeter and no fluoroscopy room duties if exposure is uncertain. Once pregnancy is declared, the dose to the fetus is limited to about 1 mSv for the remainder of the pregnancy, with extra monitoring.

Why is "Continue with no change as radiation workers receive no fetal risk" not the answer?

Fetal protection still applies after declaration.

Why is "Require abortion" not the answer?

Termination is never recommended for occupational doses far below the threshold for harm.

Why is "Dismiss her from work immediately" not the answer?

Dismissal is not required if dose limits can be met.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Radiation safety: pregnant worker in Radiology. She can continue working with appropriate placement and shielding. Termination is not indicated for such low occupational doses.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Radiation safety: pregnant worker?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.