Re: the health physics profession

[garyi@trinityphysics.com]

Lawyers are almost universally regarded as members of a profession, but whether they 

contribute to the public good is certainly dependent on the individual specimen.  :)



Dictionary.com gives the following definition for "profession"



> An occupation or career.

> An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study. 



So, there is no doubt that Health Physics is a profession.  The really issue here is 

should there be an aggressive effort to eliminate competition from uncertified / 

unlicensed physicists.  My own opinion is that a rgorous examination process is the best 

way to deal with the issue.  Economics (the $6k fine) should do the rest.



-Gary Isenhower



Date sent:      	Wed, 14 May 2003 09:01:33 -0400

From:           	William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>

Subject:        	Re: the health physics profession

To:             	"Michael G. Stabin" <michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu>

Copies to:      	radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Send reply to:  	William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>



Yes, there is some question, in my mind, whether health physics is a

profession.  Radsafe is probably a good place to discuss this.



To me, to be called a "profession," a line of work must meet 3

criteria:



(1) It must be for the public good, i.e., organized crime is not a

profession. I think we're ok, here; although, as you mentioned, I have

some doubt about the public good of spending megabucks saving people

from femtodoses.



(2) It must have an established body of knowledge and skills that must

be mastered to be recognized as a member of the profession.  I'm not

so sure, here.  You said that, "...how can you say that the health

physics profession has not established nor practices enforcement of

any professional standards? This is clearly an untenable position." 

OK, you got me.  Where are these standards published?  How are they

enforced?  Meaning nothing personal against the person who started all

of this, if his licensing document is accepted by the NRC, they are

essentially saying that anyone who calls himself a hp is recognized as

one. I hate to get the government even more involved in this, but

maybe we need either formal licensing or at least, official

recognition of some other standard.  For example, under RCRA, the

design and construction of a "Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility"

must be approved by a Licensed Professional Engineer.



3.  When a member of the profession makes a professional

determination, it can only be credibly disputed by another recognized

member of the profession.  For example, if you want to sue a physician

for malpractice, you have to get the support of another physician. 

Here, we fail miserably.  It seems that anyone who's ever been within

a mile of a geiger counter is accepted as a hp.



Is this "untenable?"



The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Curies forever.



Bill Lipton

liptonw@dteenergy.com



"Michael G. Stabin" wrote:



> > On a more serious note, this issue illustrates a fundamental flaw

> > in the

> health

> > physics "profession;" our failure to establish and enforce

> > professional standards.

>

> Aside from the other negative comments directed towards other

> listmembers in this email, which I will not address again, this

> sentence baffles me. First, by the use of quotation marks, are you

> questioning the professionalism of anyone who calls themselves a

> health physicist? And how can you say that the health physics

> profession has not established nor practices enforcement of any

> professional standards? This is clearly an untenable position.

>

> I would argue that a more important fundamental personality flaw we

> struggle with is the tendency to scare those outside the profession

> about femtosievert doses to justify making money by studying and

> controlling trivial or nonexistent risks.

>

> Mike

>

> Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP

> Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences

> Vanderbilt University

> 1161 21st Avenue South

> Nashville, TN 37232-2675

> Phone (615) 343-0068

> Fax   (615) 322-3764

> Pager (615) 835-5153

> e-mail     michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu

> internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com

>

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