A. Introduction
The use of ionizing radiation in medicine is well established, and has resulted in tremendous benefit to humankind in diagnosing and treating diseases. While the medical benefits are unquestionable, there has been growing evidence of unintended and unnecessary use of radiation in medicine, creating the need for radiation protection principles.

The IAEA was requested by its General Conference in 1999 to organize an international conference on radiation protection of patients. This conference was held in March 2001 in Malaga, Spain, and triggered an international action plan that is guiding international efforts in patient protection. This created momentum in radiation protection of patients globally.

Considering trends and developments, the IAEA decided to hold its second conference on radiation protection in medicine in 2012 in Bonn, Germany. The conference aimed to focus efforts in this area and develop a strategy for the next decade so as to maximize the positive impact of future international work. This resulted in the Bonn Call for Action.

During the five years following the Bonn conference, a number of initiatives have been taken by professional societies to form regional radiation protection campaigns. An increasing number of articles are appearing in journals in the area of patient, occupational and public medical radiation protection. There are also technological advances in imaging, therapy and dosimetry equipment with a focus on radiation protection.

Nearly five years after the Bonn conference, there is a need to assess the progress of implementation of the Bonn Call for Action and apprise Member States of advances in the field. The IAEA has decided to hold the next conference on this topic at its Headquarters in Vienna from 11 to 15 December 2017.

Scope: The coverage includes optimization and justification in medical exposure; safety in medical use of ionizing radiation; and radiation protection of medical staff and public, when ionizing radiation is used for diagnosis, intervention, therapy or research.

B. Objectives of the Conference
The objectives include reviewing actions taken and developments since the 2012 Bonn conference, especially focusing on actions taken in line with the Bonn Call for Action by all relevant parties; this will enable a review of the overall approach to the implementation of these actions and the harmonization of activities between international organizations and other stakeholders, as well as allow stakeholders to look ahead at new developments impacting on radiation protection in medicine.

C. List of Topics
The IAEA welcomes high quality contributions in all aspects of radiation protection in medicine. Both academic and practice-based papers under the umbrella of the following subjects of the topical sessions and round table discussions are welcomed:

1. Activities relating to the Bonn Call for Action, and their impact.
2. Justification in the use of radiation in medicine.
3. Radiation protection of patients and staff in diagnostic radiography, fluoroscopy and computed tomography.
4. Radiation protection in mammography, dental and maxillofacial imaging and other diagnostic modalities.
5. Radiation protection of patients and staff in interventional procedures.
6. Radiation protection in medical exposures of children and pregnant women.
7. Radiation protection of patients and staff in radiotherapy including brachytherapy.
8. Learning from unintended and accidental exposures in medicine.
9. Radiation protection of patients, staff and the public in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and hybrid imaging.
10. How are we strengthening radiation safety culture in healthcare?
11. How are we fostering and improving the radiation benefit/risk dialogue?
12. How are we meeting radiation protection challenges in design and implementation of new medical technologies?
13. How are we meeting challenges in patient dose recording, tracking and data management?
14. Regional radiation safety campaigns.
15. Topics for future research and development in medical radiation protection.

D. Target Audience
The conference is directed at a wide audience with an interest in radiation protection in medicine. In particular:

* Health professionals, e.g. physicians practising in radiological imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy; referring medical practitioners.
* Medical physicists, radiographers and technologists; radiation protection professionals and engineers.
* Healthcare managers, health economists and risk communication experts.
* Representatives of patient organizations and manufacturers; health researchers and academics.
* Representatives of health authorities and regulatory authorities with a special responsibility in this field.

E. Expected Outcomes
* Assessment of impact of the Bonn Call for Action.
* Strengthening the position of and improving radiation protection in medicine globally, taking into account the diverse challenges in radiation protection in medicine regionally.
* Response to radiation protection challenges from imaging and therapy modalities that were at an initial stage five years ago.
* Conclusion on results from the Bonn Call for Action by Member States.
* New findings and priorities relating to radiation safety.