Which policy best reflects ALARA in radiography?

• A. We do not have a radiation protection policy.
• B. We use protective aprons to block radiation, so we don't have a policy.
• C. We use film badges to determine the amount of radiation that is reasonable for our patients.
• D. We follow the ALARA philosophy.

Answer: (D)

ALARA means keeping radiation as low as reasonably achievable while still getting the diagnostic information you need. In radiography, this becomes the guiding policy: use shielding and proper collimation, maximize distance when possible, select the lowest exposure factors that still yield a clear image, avoid unnecessary repeats, and rely on good technique and equipment maintenance to minimize dose. The goal isn’t just to measure exposure after the fact, but to design practices that reduce dose from the start. The other options miss this broader, proactive emphasis: simply having no policy isn’t ALARA; using aprons alone implies protection but not a full dose-reduction policy; and film badges measure exposure but don’t define the policy of how low doses should be in pursuit of diagnostic quality.