Final answer:
It is true that having direct access to a patient's radiation dose history is beneficial for physicians to determine the advisability of additional radiologic procedures, taking into account the risks of overexposure and potential health implications. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the benefit to the referring physician in having direct access to a patient's radiation dose history is the option of knowing whether or not the ordering of an additional radiologic procedure is advisable is TRUE. Understanding a patient's radiation dose history allows the physician to make more informed decisions about the necessity and safety of additional radiologic procedures.
This knowledge can help in assessing the risk versus benefit of further imaging, considering factors such as potential overexposure to radiation and the associated increase in the risk of developing cancer from cumulative doses.
Reducing unnecessary exposure is critical, as even diagnostic doses of radiation are used cautiously, with the understanding that modern medical imaging has inherent risks. Employing isotopes with short half-lives in imaging procedures is one of the methods to limit radiation dose, as these isotopes decay quickly and therefore limit the time during which the patient is exposed to radiation.