Radioisotopes allow treatment and diagnosis of medical illnesses without the cost and trauma of open surgery (which carries risks like infection, accidents, and long recovery periods). The use of Tc-99m produces hot-spot images, which reveal early signs of disease and map how organs are functioning. The low energy gamma radiation it emits, the small dose in which it's injected and it a short half-life (6hours), minimises damage to tissues. The patient's total exposure to radiation is less than in an X-ray. So far, there have been no reported side effects.
But use of radiation on the human…