Should Engineers Be Should Engineers Be Licensed Licensed

Like Like Doctors?Doctors?

Medical PhysicistMedical Physicist

““Medical PhysicistMedical Physicist ““Some people do nuclear Some people do nuclear

medicine, others do medicine, others do diagnostic radiology (CT, diagnostic radiology (CT, x-rays, magnetic x-rays, magnetic resonance), others do resonance), others do radiation protection, and radiation protection, and other (like me) do other (like me) do radiation therapy physics radiation therapy physics (for cancer treatment).” (for cancer treatment).” (Gonzalez, J. Sept. 10(Gonzalez, J. Sept. 10thth, 2003), 2003)

Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy

““Among other things, I Among other things, I have to calculate if the have to calculate if the amount of radiation it was amount of radiation it was delivering was in delivering was in agreement with agreement with measured data.measured data.””

““An incorrectly calibrated An incorrectly calibrated machine may cause machine may cause serious side effects, serious side effects, including death.”including death.”

Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy For this machines, we have a series of For this machines, we have a series of

daily checks, weekly checks, monthly daily checks, weekly checks, monthly and yearly checks. For the daily and yearly checks. For the daily checks, you could be a technician or a checks, you could be a technician or a dosimetrist. For the weekly checks, dosimetrist. For the weekly checks, you could be a dosimtrists or a you could be a dosimtrists or a physicist with training in using the physicist with training in using the equipment. For the monthly checks, equipment. For the monthly checks, you must be a medical physicist. The you must be a medical physicist. The certification usually depends on certification usually depends on national regulations. For example, in national regulations. For example, in the US, to be a certified Medical the US, to be a certified Medical Physicist you must have a masters Physicist you must have a masters degree and 2 years of experience degree and 2 years of experience working with a senior medical working with a senior medical physicist. Then you have to pass physicist. Then you have to pass board exams.board exams.

                                                    

Prostate Seed Implants Prostate Seed Implants In my case, we also do treatment In my case, we also do treatment

planning, dose calculation, dose planning, dose calculation, dose verification, Brach therapy for cervix, verification, Brach therapy for cervix, cancer treatment simulation and cancer treatment simulation and maybe one or two other things.maybe one or two other things.

Brachytherapy is a treatment modality Brachytherapy is a treatment modality on which we place radioactive on which we place radioactive isotopes very close to the target isotopes very close to the target tissue. There are prostate implants, tissue. There are prostate implants, for example, or cesium capsules that for example, or cesium capsules that are placed inside the vaginal cavity to are placed inside the vaginal cavity to treat some forms of vaginal and treat some forms of vaginal and uterine cancer. In Panama we use uterine cancer. In Panama we use cesium and we got a new machine cesium and we got a new machine called a High Dose Rate machine that called a High Dose Rate machine that works with Iridium.works with Iridium.

Death vs. DisasterDeath vs. Disaster

Direct Effect on Direct Effect on Human LifeHuman Life

ResponsibilityResponsibility Individual LifeIndividual Life Lives of manyLives of many

Example Example 2003 Blackout2003 Blackout

DISASTERDISASTER

On August 24th 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck an On August 24th 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck an unprepared South Florida and demolished entire unprepared South Florida and demolished entire neighborhoods. Poorly designed houses were torn neighborhoods. Poorly designed houses were torn apart. 250,000 people were left homeless. Ten years apart. 250,000 people were left homeless. Ten years later, a new building code was put in place.later, a new building code was put in place.

Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering

Energy IndustryEnergy Industry

Automobile IndustryAutomobile Industry

Aeronautic IndustryAeronautic Industry

Nuclear EngineeringNuclear Engineering

Aspects of Nuclear Engineering are well regulatedAspects of Nuclear Engineering are well regulated Operator License is required to transport, store, and Operator License is required to transport, store, and

operate nuclear fueloperate nuclear fuel Design of is restricted concerning nuclear material.Design of is restricted concerning nuclear material.

Nuclear LicenseNuclear License

Designed structures Designed structures affecting public safety affecting public safety must be certified by a must be certified by a P.E.P.E.

Operators are licensed Operators are licensed but other engineers are but other engineers are not.not.

There are maintenance There are maintenance engineering jobs as well engineering jobs as well as some design work that as some design work that do not require P.E. do not require P.E. certification.certification.

            

The Melt-DownThe Melt-Down

Having licensed engineers or certified Having licensed engineers or certified P.E’s improves the integrity of the P.E’s improves the integrity of the designed or maintained product and designed or maintained product and reduces costs.reduces costs.

Design work concerning public and Design work concerning public and environmental safety should require a environmental safety should require a license.license.

Other design engineers should not have to Other design engineers should not have to be licensed to prevent over-regulation.be licensed to prevent over-regulation.