Can we get a scan done without referring any doctor?
Nobody would be stopping you to get a body scan done without a doctor’s referral, but it is always advisable to not do so!
Even if you do so,
- You will not be able to make any meaning out of the images;
- You will not be able to carry forward your treatment on your own!
Yes.
A doctor’s referral stands salient in undertaking a body scan for reading the health condition & its corollary treatment!
Perhaps,
Your doctor knows what is best for you & your health care!
What happens when you do not consult with your doctor before getting a scan done?
a.) You can miss out on the best suitable scan to select for a disease diagnosis if you do not consult with your doctor. What body scan do you need – An MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, A CT Scan or a Computed Tomography Scan, or an Ultrasound? It depends on a variety of factors, and you may not know them. For instance, you may not know that you cannot wear makeup & jewelry during an MRI scan; otherwise, the test accuracy lay sacrificed!
b.) You may not know what food to eat before up-taking an ultrasound & when to eat, to be more precise! At that time, your image may come distorted due to the presence of food or too much liquid inside your body.
Intake of an over-the-counter painkiller before your CT scan…
c.) You may intake an over-the-counter painkiller before your CT scan and then suffer from allergic reactions & other side effects! Patients may miss out on the instruction of delaying their regular medicines for overactive thyroid for some hours until your whole-body MRI stands complete!
d.) You may expose yourself to ionizing radiation while up-taking a self-referred CT scan amidst a health condition that can deteriorate further, such as Diabetes!
e.) You may encounter claustrophobia inside the MRI tube because of your lack of acknowledgment, and you can have a possibility of a panic attack. However, when you undertake the scan with a referral from your doctor, who is already aware of your clinical condition, she may suggest some emergency care for you to the radiology center, like the application of sedatives!
f.) You may take some dangerous steps, like signing up for an MRI while having metallic dental fillings in your mouth or maybe up-taking a CT scan during pregnancy. They are blunders, I must say!
And,
To avoid such possibilities & circumstances,
You need to consult with your doctor and get a reference for a body scan instead of getting a scan done without any referral!
Why is X-Ray Scan not performed without a doctor’s referral in the healthcare centers?
While you can have a self-referred body scan in the case of An MRI, Ultrasound, or CT scan, you cannot have it in the case of X-Rays! Are you wondering why?
Well,
X-Rays are a type of body scan where a certain form of radiation that stands the same as visible lights, ionizing radiation, is used to create internal body images! These radiations stand harmful for your as they act as disease catalysts, particularly that of cancer!
Excess amounts of radiation can cause skin burns & damage to the cells! You may turn vulnerable to excess hair loss or experience a sore throat for many days! You may also have severe allergic reactions & infections in your body as an adverse effect of X-radiations!
The risk is too high, indeed!
Perhaps, that is why medical science made doctors’ referrals for an X-Ray test a legal obligation! In other words, you have to show a requisition of X-Rays stated by your doctor in her or his prescription to undergo the scan!
How can you take a self-referred body scan? – MRI, mainly!
You can undergo an MRI by self-reference. It is because MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the kind of test that involves no radiation, no invasion, no risk, and no complications. Except for the fact that you shall not be permitted to go forward if you have any metallic implants in your body! A Whole-body MRI is the most popular self-referred body scan in 2022.
You can undertake an MRI by filling up a self-referral form. Make sure you go revisit the guidelines once before filling out the form. Patients need to be above the age of 18 to pursue a self-referred MRI scan and answer the safety questionnaire, thereby detailing the reasons for up-taking the MRI scan without a prior doctor’s consultation!
You can only undertake the routine scan and not any advanced MRI techniques!
You have to provide accurate contact details; your name, phone number, address, age, nationality, and so forth!
You have to submit your previous medical reports & answer the questions on your medical history!
That’s all! You can undertake a self-referred MRI scan and do some self-investigation on your current health condition!
But,
Also, remember,
A self-referred MRI is not allowed for the diagnosis of known malignant diseases! MRI does not involve the usage of contrast dye! An SR MRI cannot offer sedatives to curb claustrophobic tendencies when you lay inside the MRI machine! An S-Referred MRI scan would be costlier than normal!
Last Words:
Now,
You can supposedly realize that you can get a body scan done without a doctor’s referral, and not have any problem if you opt for an MRI scan. The self-referred scan is also allowed in the case of Computed Tomography and Ultrasound. However, it is always better to get your doctor’s approval before doing any experiment with your own body!
Alas! Self-referred medical testing is legally not allowed for X-Rays!
So, what is your call? Do you still want to take a self-referred body scan? Or do you want to visit a doctor at the earliest?
Comment & let us know right below!
For more insight, go to www.mrichandigarh.com