Information Status of the Patients about Radiological Examinations and Encountered Ethical and Medical Issues

Aim: It is observed that the patient compliance and technical quality is increased in sufficiently informed patients by the doctor at the examinations requested from the radiology clinics. We aimed to point to rate of the patients have been informed by the doctor about ultrasound and interventional radiological examinations requested from the clinical disciplines and accordingly encountered medical and ethic problems. Methods: Simple yes or no questions were asked to 1000 patients (550 male, mean age 44, 450 women, mean age 42) admitted to our clinic to assess their level of information about the investigation. Whether the patients were informed by the doctor, know why and what is the examination wanted and knowledge about the way of technique were asked to the patients simply and clearly. Results: 880 of 1000 (88%) patients were not informed by the doctor about tests, 710 patients (71%) had no information about the examination. Patients with information about research (290 patients) classified according to source of the information; 120 patients were informed by the physician (41.4%), 90 patients (31%) had examination before, 44 patients (15.2%) received information from the relatives and other patients examined, while the remaining 36 patients (12.4%) were found information from a variety of media organs and from the internet. Conclusion: As a result of our research it is concluded that information status of the patients about radiological examinations is insufficient and the patients are not informed adequately by clinicians. Patient non-compliance during the examination because of having no information or false information decreases the quality of the investigation and makes it difficult to reach the diagnosis.