Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
-
There is contention within the medical community surrounding imaging self-referral, in which providers refer patients to imaging facilities from which they receive financial returns. Controversy surrounds the assertion that self-referral leads to overutilization, or the application of imaging resources and services in situations in which patients are unlikely to benefit. ⋯ The 4 core principles of medical ethics--autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice--represent a useful and well-established paradigm. This review article addresses the question of whether self-referral upholds these 4 principles and thus whether it is an ethical practice.