French action over fluoroscope material disposal:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The French health ministry has issued a decree detailing the procedures that must be followed when fluoroscopes that do not have image intensifiers are taken out of service. Fluoroscopes are video monitors which product a live X-ray image for the visual monitoring of procedures including catheterisation. From September 21 2003, the electrical sources for the X-ray tubes must be disposed of once such equipment is out of use. The decree also requires a declaration from the French nuclear safety and radioprotection directorate stating that the product is no longer in use and that action has been taken to render impossible the accidental use of materials from it. The decree also applies to radiophotography equipment used in fluoroscopy.