Professional ethics in the French medical physicist community: Survey results and implications

Abstract

Introduction: Since 2017, in France, medical physicists (MP) are finally defined by law as health professionals and as such, the roles and responsibilities of an MP lean on those medical professional ethics but MPs lack initial or continuing training in this subject. In order to find out how our colleagues feel about this subject, the following survey was conducted.

Methods: French Society of Medical Physics (SFPM) designed a web survey addressed to its members and non-members concerning ethics based on the 2013 AAPM work; experience and training were highlighted as particularly important within the survey structure.

Results: 249 answers were collected and showed a pronounced concern at the lack of initial and continuous training in this subject. Professional experience of non-ethical behaviour was attributed to the lack of training, resources or competences and hostile work environments.

Conclusion: To address the shortcomings highlighted in the survey, SFPM has created a dedicated voluntary working group aimed at producing a professional code of ethics for MP and training modules to be applied at entry level or as continuing professional development for education.

Keywords: Education; Ethics; Medical physicist; Professionalism; Radiation.