Time to step forward.

humanbody1959

Soundtrack: Do we only see the stars when they fall like rain?

So, it might be the right time now.

The universality of illness and medicine has been obvious for radiologist since long time ago. As anyone who practices would know, the task of systematically analize humans from an anatomical perspective does push very much to recognize the very dominant “same” among the many “different ones” we are.

Time has changed. Nowadays, not only we are able to recognize ourselves as persons and patients in any Other across-the-world, but also we have the tools to know about ones clinical history, read their imaging studies and deliver a report with no such a great interobserver variability. Across the globe, I must insist.

So, even when regional/national regulations are vital to try to keep medical practice closer to its best and regulate professional conditions in different geopolitical enviroments, it is probably the moment to move forward as to improve our availability to the patients, worldwide.

I would say the only, or best, way for that has to be a “trans-legal” approach, meaning, we can’t wait for international regulations to make all the counterparts get to agree on other interests but we (as professional fellows, better said doctors) should be able to use the tools we have to empower the practice of a better medicine as soon as possible.

How? From my personal point of view, this transverse-regulatory debate focused on ethics, quality and fair trade must be lead by professional associations. Many of them have already, or are on the way to have, white papers or general recommendations for tele-radiology best-practice. It is a fair effort and might (should) be the seed for the debate and later development of a much wider global debate, that should be faced on the behalf of stablishing a minimum common core of agreements applicable as to, at least, be able to clearly and frontally oppose some of the risks of teleradiology.

Who to lead?: International Society of Radiology. If for anyone it felt as if this Society or its board has not earn the credit to lead such a process, the renewal of the persons that sustain it may be opened for so called better candidates to face this historical moment.

One way or the other is time to recognize reality as it is today and allow it to permeate our more traditional focus on the profession. It is not only we have the opportunity to make a great difference in millions of patients health, as radiologists, as doctors, we are clearly meant to be pioneers on this next millennium approac