Why does NRC not require hospitalization of patients receiving therapeutic doses of radioactive iodine-131 (I-131)?
The NRC believes that its current release criterion is based on sound radiation protection principles, is sufficient to protect public health and safety, results in reduced health care costs, and allows patients to be in the comfort of their homes. Under the current regulations, a patient may be treated as an outpatient if the authorized user physician determines that the radiation dose to other individuals from the patient treated with I-131 is likely to be below a certain level, i.e., 5 millisieverts (500 millirem).
