[ RadSafe ] Article: The neutron-therapy saga: a cautionary tale

[John Jacobus]

Gary,
  Which comment should I rephrase?  I was circulating an article that appeared via another Web site. Was that not obvious?

Gary Isenhower <gisenhower at gmail.com> wrote:
  Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty — some most unsure, some nearly sure, but none absolutely certain
 - Richard Feynman

John, I think you need rephrase your comment, because if you wait for complete scientific knowledge, you will never get anywhere at all.

-Gary Isenhower

  On Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 2:21 PM, John Jacobus <crispy_bird at yahoo.com> wrote:
  The following appeared at http://medicalphysicsweb.org/cws/article/opinion/32466  The neutron-therapy saga: a cautionary tale  Neutron therapy - tumour destruction via irradiation with a beam of neutrons - was once heralded as a highly promising new cancer treatment. Unfortunately, research based upon an optimistic interpretation of initial experimental evidence produced disappointing clinical results. As the following sequence of events illustrates, the use of partial scientific knowledge in an attempt to improve the treatment of a complex biological condition such as cancer proved ill-advised.





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"Part of human nature resents change, loves equilibrium, while another part welcomes novelty, loves the excitement of disequilibrium. There is no formula for the resolution of this tug-of-war, but it is obvious  that absolute surrender to either of them invites disaster."
-J. Bartlet Brebner 

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com
       
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