RE: The Ethics Issue Continued

["Spell, Bill" <bills@deq.state.la.us>]

I like the idea, but it is obviously a question with no accurate answer, at 
least not immediately.  You could probably question any answer given, but 
maybe it will cause a bit of stumbling and delay in the opposition to the 
position you espouse.

This is my opinion only, FWIW (for what it's worth)!

By the way, a number of Radsafers have mentioned that we ought to put 
radiation risks in perspective, or words to that effect.  It occurred to me, 
however, that very few suggestions have been offered as to how to do this 
effectively.  The old comparison to chest x-rays and cigarette smoking just 
don't fill the bill.  One or two that I read were excellent, and I hope 
someone is writing these down and compiling a list of those which may be 
useful to those who have to explain to the uneducated masses (in radiation 
matters, of course).  Sorry, I've already deleted them.

Again, this is IMHO (in my humble opinion).

Bill Spell
bills@deq.state.la.us
504 765-0160
 ----------
From: radsafe
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: The Ethics Issue Continued
Date: Monday, July 01, 1996 10:05AM

With respect to providing information to the public about the effects of low
levels of radiation, the American Council on Science and Health Special
Report on Nutrition Accuracy in Popular Magazines (1992-1994) sparked a
thought that we might wish to use.  That document contains the statement "As
judge Manfred Kroger remarked, 'The public should always be informed that
the proportion of the scientific community these groups actually represent
is nominal.'"  The judge is talking about advocacy groups.
It would seem to me a good thing if, whenever an advocate for a particular
group states a position, that someone ask the question: "What percent of the
scientific community holds that position?"  The public would benefit from
the answer in many cases.  What does the RADSAFE community think of such an
idea?  Al Tschaeche xat@inel.gov
Al  Tschaeche xat@inel.gov phone: 208-526-3383, fax: 208-526-7291