The ethical commitment of Australian radiographers: Does medical dominance create an influence?

Lewis, Sarah; Heard, Robert; Robinson, John; White, Karolyn; Poulos, Ann

doi:10.1016/j.radi.2007.01.004

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Volume 14, Issue 2 , Pages 90-97, May 2008

The ethical commitment of Australian radiographers: Does medical dominance create an influence?

Sarah Lewis
- School of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, East Street, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 02 9351 9617; fax: +61 02 9351 9146.
Robert Heard
- School of Behavioural and Community Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, East Street, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia
John Robinson
- School of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, East Street, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia
Karolyn White
- Centre for Values and Ethics and the Law in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, East Street, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia
Ann Poulos
- School of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, East Street, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia

Received 16 December 2005; accepted 2 January 2007.

Abstract

There is a lack of awareness and openness surrounding ethical debate in Diagnostic Radiography literature and culture, perpetuated in part by the historical growth of the technical realm of radiography, radiology and medicine. Hence, the impact of Australian radiographers' current level of professional autonomy, combined with the influence of medical dominance and radiographers' ethical commitment was undocumented. This study investigated the role, importance and attitudes of Australian radiographers towards ethics through a qualitative study following a grounded theory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Australian. A conceptual framework mapping the causal conditions affecting the ethical commitment was developed.

This study argues that a number of internal and external variables weave an intricate fabric of poor identity, subservience and negative workplace culture. Australian radiographers, whist attempting to set a standard of ethical commitment, are hindered by difficulties of medical dominance, relatively poor professional autonomy and difficulty in accepting responsibility. The presence of private radiology enterprise and the association between patient referral and money has eroded the radiographer-patient relationship and introduced the potential for unethical practice in the radiographer-radiologist-referring practitioner relationship.

Keywords: Radiography, Ethics, Professionalism, Autonomy, Medical dominance