Thread by @CroakeyNews

We're set to follow the final day of #ASMIRT2023 - national gathering of the medical radiation sciences: been a big agenda of clinical/workplace issues, also diversity/inclusion, AI, patient-centred care

Today's opening #ASMIRT2023 session will focus on forensic radiography, workplace wellness/burnout, clinical issues, education and gaps in care.

We are not attending #ASMIRT2023, but @AlisonSBarrett and I (@mariemcinerney) are tweeting via abstracts/posters/presentations/interviews, with thanks to many speakers who have shared their work with us

Edel Doyle is a radiographer, and the Disaster Victim Identification Coordinator for the Aust/NZ branch of @IAFRorg (global body for forensic radiographers) – she presented earlier at #ASMIRT2023 on the DVI role and what it can involve.

Doyle is currently enrolled in a PhD at @MonashUni investigating if one low-dose CT can replace the Skeletal Survey X-ray series in the detection of non-accidental injury or suspected physical abuse in children #ASMIRT2023 research.monash.edu/en/publication…

Asked what led her to the research, Doyle told Croakey: "X-raying young children and feeling like I was adding to their trauma." #ASMIRT2023

Doyle said many children are under 3 years, so are not able to hold themselves in position for the 28 X-rays involved in detecting non-accidental injury. "It might even be their abuser that we are asking to help hold them in position while we take the X-rays." #ASMIRT2023

"So if we can replace those 28 X-rays, which can take us 1-2 hours, with one CT scan that will take less than five minutes, it's a lot less traumatic for the child," Doyle told Croakey. #ASMIRT2023

Asked what else can relieve the trauma for kids, Doyle said having trained forensic radiographers who know the law, eg when siblings are being X-rayed in case they are also being abused. "We're not doing it for medical reasons, we're doing it for legal reasons." #ASMIRT2023

"We have to understand the law and where our images fit in to the chain of evidence, because the last thing we want is for our images to be inadmissible in court and the child gets put back into an unsafe environment." Doyle #ASMIRT2023

"It's not something that we are taught in uni, we'll be taught about non accidental injury, what the signs are, what X-rays to take. But we're not taught about everything that happens around that, that we're only one small piece in a very big jigsaw." Doyle #ASMIRT2023

"But you also need to be a good paediatric radiographer, in order to get the child to cooperate as much as you can, so that it's less stressful for them." Doyle #ASMIRT2023

"Forensic imaging is any radiographic imaging that may be used to answer a question of law. S'times there is a misperception it only refers to postmortem imaging. This is not the case &, clinically, many of us perform forensic imaging without realising it." Doyle #ASMIRT2023

Good advice to support radiographers working with non accidental injury in children: Doyle cc @RANZCRcollege #ASMIRT2023PIC

. @RANZCRcollege advice to radiologists applies more broadly: Doyle:"....it is NOT the radiologist’s role to work out who inflicted the injury; that is the role of the criminal justice system. The radiologist DOES have a role in identifying findings of concern...'' #ASMIRT2023

"Looking after our own mental health, and that of our colleagues, is really Important in a forensic imaging team. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of PTSD in ourselves, and our colleagues, is paramount," Doyle told #ASMIRT2023 cc @AlisonSBarrett

Edel Doyle abstract #ASMIRT2023

Edel Doyle abstract on better ways to investigate non accidental injury for children #ASMIRT2023