The American College of Radiology (ACR) has joined other U.S. medical societies in speaking out over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
ACR on Friday urged for an “immediate end” to the conflict, which escalated on Feb. 24 after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country. Such a ceasefire would allow medical providers to safely care for the injured, organizations to deliver aid, and civilians to exit “besieged” cities.
“The ACR and its members stand ready to assist and support our radiologic colleagues and other medical providers in Ukraine as they seek to rebuild and renew access to their healthcare and social services systems,” the college said March 4. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this war.”
Its announcement comes after the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging issued its own statement this month, expressing “grave concern about the rapidly deteriorating situation.” Both U.S. imaging groups also advocated for protecting Ukraine’s many reactors—including the Zaporizhzhia power plant recently bombed by Russian forces—stressing the need to avoid a nuclear crisis.
Other physician societies outside of imaging have previously condemned Russia’s actions, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American College of Physicians.
“As physicians we feel a responsibility to speak out for those who are being harmed,” the internists society said March 3. “ACP stands with our physician colleagues in Ukraine who are doing all they can to save lives under extremely dangerous and disruptive conditions. We join with the global health community, including the World Health Organization and the World Medical Association, in expressing deep concern over the health impact of the conflict.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.