If you realize you exposed a patient incorrectly, what steps should you take?

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When an exposure is incorrect, the priority is to protect the patient and ensure proper accountability. The correct sequence is to quickly involve the radiologist or supervising clinician so they can assess any potential risk from the exposure and decide on the appropriate course of action. At the same time, document the incident and the details of the dose involved in the patient’s record and in the department’s QA log. Review the patient’s cumulative dose to date to make sure there is no excessive exposure. If there is any possibility that a repeat image is warranted, obtain proper informed consent and perform re-imaging only if justified, with the technique optimized to minimize further exposure. These steps ensure patient safety, keep accurate dose records, and support quality assurance. Merely informing the patient or blaming equipment without documentation or risk assessment does not adequately address safety or accountability.