Are CT Scans Safe? What Most People Get Wrong About Radiation

Episode notes

The fear of radiation is often rooted in what we cannot see, smell, or touch, leading the public to associate life-saving CT scans with historical disasters like Hiroshima or Chernobyl. Dr. M. Mahesh, a Professor of Radiology and clinical leader, joins the podcast to combat this "infodemic" of medical disinformation. Dr. Mahesh shares his experience leading national reports on radiation exposure, explaining why a reported "600% increase" in the US population's dose was a misunderstood statistic that triggered unnecessary Congressional hearings. He dives into the counterintuitive science of why patient shielding, once a standard practice, can actually increase radiation doses due to modern automatic exposure controls. Beyond the physics, the episode explores the "long game" of building public trust through social media, the role of technologists as the "window for radiology," and how experts can "flood the zone" with good information to ensure AI models provide accurate medical advice What You’ll Learn: The 600% Myth: How statistics about US radiation exposure were sensationalized and the reality of the 20% decrease seen in more recent years.