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Shamelessly copied verbatim from this post by Chris Nickson of the LITFL team.

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The ‘Ten Commandments of Emergency Radiology’ according to Touquet et al (1995):

1. Treat the patient, not the radiograph
2. Take a history and examination before ordering a radiograph
3. Request a radiograph only when necessary
4. Never look at a radiograph without seeing the patient, and never see a patient without looking at the radiograph
5. Look at every radiograph, the whole radiograph, and the radiograph as a whole - remember the ABCS: alignment/ adequacy, bones, cartilage (joints) and soft tissues.
6. Re-examine the patient when there is an incongruity between the radiograph and the expected findings
7. Remember the rule of twos - two views, two joints (above and below the injury), two sides (for comparison), two occassions (may need a follow up x-ray) and two radiographs (compare to a normal radiograph)
8. Take radiographs before and after procedures
9. If a radiograph does not look quite right ask and listen: there is probably something wrong.
10. Ensure you are protected by fail safe mechanisms - establish a quality control system

References: Touquet R, Driscoll P, Nicholson D. Teaching in accident and emergency medicine: 10 commandments of accident and emergency radiology. BMJ. 1995 Mar 11;310(6980):642-5. PMID:7661941;  PMCID: PMC2549014.

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These ought to be put up prominently (engraved in stone tablets if so desired) in every Emergency and Radiology Department.

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