Ethical issues in teleradiology

Teleradiology is the electronic transmission of radiographic images from one geographic location to another for the purposes of diagnosis and/or consultation. It raises interesting ethical and practical issues which have received relatively little attention in the radiology or ethics literature to date. These include confidentiality, data security and technological reliability, consent, competence, interprofessional and professional-patient relationships, and the organization of medical services. This paper reviews these issues, discussing how far these are new concerns in radiological practice, and makes suggestions for minimum ethical and professional standards for teleradiological practice.