An Ethical Analysis of Caregivers Radiation Exposure in Radiological Medical Settings

In medical radiation exposure setting, caregivers—as non-benefiting individuals who accompany or assist patients—face a series of ethical issues that have long been overlooked by current radiological protection frameworks. Based on the ethical values outlined in International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication No. 138 and No. 157, this paper systematically analyzes the ethical dilemmas faced by caregivers, including difficulties in categorization, the absence of informed consent, limited autonomy, and the problem of invisible harm. The applicability limits of the three fundamental principles of radiological protection—justification, optimization, and dose limits—have been critically examined in the context of such exposures. Institutional countermeasures are proposed in three aspects: improving information disclosure mechanisms, optimizing exposure management systems, and introducing ethical evaluation frameworks.