It’s time to call MRI practitioners what they actually…
The authors argue that the term 'radiographer' is outdated for professionals who operate MRI machines, as MRI technology uses magnetic fields rather than ionizing radiation. They suggest that the profession requires a distinct name to avoid patient confusion and better reflect the underlying science.
Why it matters
Correct professional nomenclature is important for patient education and ensuring that medical practitioners are accurately identified by the specific technologies they operate.
Why are we still describing the people who run these machines with a name borrowed from a different technology?
James Nol · Steven Boyages Ask an MRI patient what they think the machine is doing to them, and you’ll be surprised how often the word radiation comes up. They’re not being uninformed, they’ve been set up by a naming problem decades in the making. The person who scanned them is a radiographer. The department is radiology. Often the sign on the door still says X-ray. Of course they’re confused.
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