Final answer:
Licensed healthcare professionals such as medical doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and dentists are authorized to prescribe X-ray examinations, ensuring they balance the benefits of diagnostic imaging with the risks of radiation exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the definition of the classes of persons who may prescribe an X-ray examination on a human subject, an activity primarily regulated within the field of medicine. In the medical field, radiographic imaging is widely used to examine parts of the body that are opaque to visible light. It is essential that individuals prescribing these examinations have appropriate credentials and training to weigh the potential for cell damage from radiation exposure against the diagnostic value of the image obtained. This process is particularly important in light of concerns over accidental overexposure from procedures such as CT scans. Over time, X-ray technology has evolved with refinements to minimize radiation exposure through shielding and limiting time exposed.
Typically, the classes of persons allowed to prescribe X-rays are medical doctors (MDs), physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and other licensed healthcare professionals who have received training in the safe use of diagnostic imaging. In some areas, dentists also have the authority to prescribe dental X-rays due to their role in diagnosing and treating oral diseases. It is critical that these professionals adhere to established safety protocols to protect both patients and healthcare workers from unnecessary exposure to radiation.