Can a profession exist without research?

Abstract

Radiography combines science, technology and patient care to provide an essential role in medical diagnosis and treatment. The term ‘profession’ has existed in the Oxford English Dictionary from the 15th century and argues that a profession is an occupation where professional knowledge is applied by someone who has undertaken prolonged training and obtained a formal qualification (Oxford English Dictionary Online; 2007). For most of history, professions have based their practices on expertise derived from experience passed down in the form of tradition. Even in health care, many practices have still not been justified by evidence and as such there are areas of uncertainty.