The Roles and Responsibilities of a Medical Physicist.

Since the discovery of x-rays in 1895, they have played a very important role in medicine. As the use and need for x-rays and radioactive material in medicine has progressed, the role of the medical physicist has also expanded. Imaging in the diagnosis of disease continues to change as new modalities e.g. magnetic resonance imaging become available and as the modalities improve with advances in technology. Similarly, the treatment of disease with radiation has improved with new developments. The role of the medical physicist will be discussed especially as it relates to the changes in technology.