RE: dirty bomb -- doctors at Society of Nuclear Medicine's annual meeting

["Carol S. Marcus" <csmarcus@ucla.edu>]

At 02:04 PM 7/5/02 -0400, Ted Rockwell wrote:

> >
>
> They've got all the facts right (or almost--e.g. the delayed deaths after
>
> Chernobyl), but the dead-wrong conclusion.  We should tell people
>
> these facts, without the conclusion, and then conclude "therefore,
>
> there's no need to panic."
>
>  
>
> Why keep telling them they should
>
> panic??!
>
>  
>
> Ted Rockwell



Dear Radsafers:


I was at the SNM meeting referred to above.  I do not recall anyone

saying that there were delayed deaths from Cernobyl.  I did ask

Henry Royal if there had been any deaths among the children with thyroid

cancer, and he said that he thought there had been 5-6, but that they

died from complications of surgery, not the cancer itself.  A

complication rate like this is incredibly high; it would not happen

here.


As far as the public panic question goes, the speakers pointed out the

probable panic that would ensue, and stressed the importance of feeding

the public useful, truthful information to try to stop the

panic.


It was a superb session.  


Carol S. Marcus, Ph.D., M.D.

<csmarcus@ucla.edu>