  Photonuclear reactions using a laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma source
provide a new method for producing radioisotopes for medical applications.
Compared with the conventional method, this method has the advantages of a high
specific activity and less heat. Initiated by the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma
Source (SLEGS), we conducted a survey of potential photonuclear reactions,
$(\upgamma,n)$, $(\upgamma,p)$, and $(\upgamma,\upgamma')$ whose cross-sections
can be measured at SLEGS by summarizing the experimental progress. In general,
the data are rare and occasionally inconsistent. Therefore, theoretical
calculations are often used to evaluate the production of medical
radioisotopes. Subsequently, we verified the model uncertainties of the widely
used reaction code TALYS-1.96, using the experimental data of the
\ce{^100Mo}$(\upgamma,n)$\ce{^99Mo}, \ce{^65Cu}$(\upgamma,n)$\ce{^64Cu}, and
\ce{^68Zn}$(\upgamma,p)$\ce{^67Cu} reactions.
