Exposição radiológica ocupacional e incumprimento das normas de proteção: Implicações jurídicas para as instituições de saúde
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Resumo
O aumento exponencial do uso de radiação ionizante nas aplicações médicas intensificou a exposição ocupacional, transformando a segurança radiológica num dever legal e institucional intransferível no âmbito da gestão hospitalar. Apesar da existência de um enquadramento normativo rigoroso, consagrado na Diretiva 2013/59/Euratom, no Decreto-Lei n.º 108/2018 e na Lei n.º 102/2009, a evidência científica documenta falhas generalizadas no cumprimento das normas de proteção radiológica, nomeadamente na monitorização individual, no uso de equipamentos de proteção e na formação profissional.
O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar criticamente a evidência científica disponível sobre a exposição radiológica ocupacional e a discussão das consequências jurídicas associadas à gestão inadequada deste risco. Nesse sentido, foi realizada uma análise de abordagem teórico-normativa, baseada na revisão crítica e seletiva da literatura. Ficou demonstrado que o incumprimento é predominantemente um fenómeno sistémico e organizacional, resultante de falhas na gestão de recursos, na cultura de segurança institucional e na liderança, e não apenas da negligência individual dos profissionais.
O quadro jurídico português e europeu atribui à entidade empregadora a responsabilidade primária e não delegável pela proteção dos trabalhadores, sendo o seu incumprimento passível de gerar responsabilidade civil, laboral e administrativa. Destaca-se ainda o papel preventivo do direito, cuja função ultrapassa a mera dimensão sancionatória, contribuindo para a influência das práticas clínicas e organizacionais.
Conclui-se que a articulação entre a ciência e o direito é essencial para a promoção de ambientes de trabalho seguros, destacando a necessidade de abordagens integradas que reforcem a governação institucional e a cultura de segurança radiológica.
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