Re: On the Linear Model and CHP "ethics"

[Rich Oesterling <ogr@inel.gov>]

On Sun, 15 Oct 1995 HWADE@aol.com wrote:

> To the Subscribers:
> In the HPS October Newsletter Dan Strom's feature article advocates and
> endorses using the Linear Model for radiation protection purposes. Dr.
> Strom's article was accompanied by a letter from Charles Meinhold titled
> "Strom Has It Exactly Right!!"
> 
> Other authorities have had, however, a differing opinion.
> 
> For example, the HPS Newsletter, v.XVI, no.11, November 1988 had another
> feature article from which I have extracted the following two sentences.
> 
> In 1988 the Health Physics Society took the position that a generic annual
> exposure level, "below regulatory concern", should be approximately 10 to 20
> millirem per year.
> In his presentation to the NRC on this topic, Lauriston Taylor, Chair of the
> Society Committee that prepared the position paper, stated that "if used for
> projecting real effects that will occur following low-level exposures of the
> public, the assumption of proportionality is inappropriate and misleading,
> and should not be so used."
> 
> In my opinion Dr. Taylor's statement is still correct.
> 
> H.Wade Patterson CHP
> 1116 Linda Lane
> Lakeview OR 97630
> (503) 947-4974

My apologies in advance to Wade for using his note to illustrate another
area in the AAHP "Standards of Professional Responsibility for Certified
Health Physicists" that may prove to be controversial, or at least more
controversial than the rest. 

Article II.D states:

"The CHP shall counsel affected parties factually regarding potential 
health risks and precautions necessary to avoid health risks."

It would appear that "facts" regarding exposures at levels within the 
naturally-occurring range are very hard to come by.  It is likely that 
any statement by a CHP regarding such exposures could be challenged as 
being "unethical" with respect to the Article cited.  Perhaps that is the 
risk one takes in a profession based on a hypothesis.

Cheers!

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