The Missing Piece in Medical Imaging Safety with Dr. Madan Rehani

Episode notes

In this episode of Frame by Frame: Rethink Imaging, host Chris St John welcomes Dr. Madan Rehani, a globally recognized expert in radiation protection, to examine the complexities of cumulative radiation dose tracking in diagnostic imaging. With a career spanning Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and more than a decade at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Rehani brings unparalleled insight into how the medical community can better manage radiation risk. He discusses how uncertainty in radiation effects should inspire prudent safeguards—not paralysis—especially when balancing clinical benefits with long-term exposure concerns. Together, they explore the key differences in radiation policy between the U.S. and Europe, the underutilized potential of existing dose-reduction technologies, and how CT scans—often assumed to be “low dose”—still warrant caution. Dr. Rehani introduces tiered safety systems modeled after traffic light warnings and emphasizes how public pressure could help shift outdated safety practices.