Picture this ...

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

A group of 6 prominent health physicists sitting at a table in front 
of a Congressional hearing, and one by one they state their name, and 
state categorically "I do not believe that radiation causes any 
negative consequences, whatsoever." Sound familiar? Simply change the 
word radiation for tobacco, and that's what the scene would look 
like. Far fetched? All one need do is subscribe to Radsafe and look 
at the outrage and vehement at any mention that radiation might 
actually cause illness, death or other psychological ailments.

To those of us who are members of the Heath Physics Society, have you 
read the Prospectus in the current directory, page 271? It starts out 
with "The Society is a professional organization whose mission is to 
promote the practice of radiation safety." It goes on to state 
"Society members are involved in understanding, evaluating, and 
controlling the potential risks from radiation relative to the 
benefits." So I ask, what safety are we promoting from radiation, 
and, what are those potential risks that we are to control? If you 
read Radsafe regularly, there obviously aren't any risks to be 
worried about. If that's the case, we don't need the Society, we 
don't need Radsafe, AAPM, NRRPT, CHP or health physicists.


Are there risks? Of course. Are members of the public, military and 
work places exposed to radiation that "may" have caused problems? Of 
course. Are all accusations valid. Of course not. What I don't see is 
any attempt to "evaluate" the issues, determine if there is causation 
for an individual's suffering, and a simple dismissal of any negative 
statements, as being unfounded. Where are the scientists in us? Do 
any of you recall hypothesis testing? Prove the null hypothesis as 
false, before rejecting it. I see a lot of rejecting facts here on 
Radsafe all the time.

Am I an anti-nuclear individuals? I dare say not! I am very pro-
nuclear, but I also have an open mind. I've been in this profession 
for 30 years now. Four years with state government, 22 years in 
nuclear power and 4 years in commercial health physics. I am as pro-
nuclear as anyone. But I also can think for myself, and not rush to 
judgment. I hope others can do the same.

Is Radsafe going to continue as a forum for learning, discussion 
issues and development of mitigating factors, or, are we going to 
become the "good old boy's" club, where there is no wrong, there is 
no harm, and in conclusion, no reason to be.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626                                      

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

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