Managing the pregnant radiation worker: a realistic policy for hospitals today.

: Effective, fair management of pregnant employees exposed to radiation requires the balancing of three factions: the rights of the expectant mother to pursue her career without discrimination based on sex; the protection of the the fetus, and the needs of the employer. Each hospital should establish a realistic policy which addresses these three concerns, by clearly articulating the expectations of the employer and the options available to the employee. Successful implementation of the policy depends on the means by which this information is communicated to all female employees exposed to radiation, so that they have a fair opportunity to exercise their options within the hospital's general employment policies.