Re: an ethical issue?

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

Confirming Bernie's conclusion, Dr. Margaret Maxey, Bioethicist,  has recently 
stated in a paper to be presented at the Wingspread Radiation Conference
sponsored by the Council of Scientific Society Presidents": 

"Ethical Travesties:   Fear of radiation has proved to be far more detrimental 
to public health than radiation itself. ... fear of radiation has proved
fatal: (1) fear of bearing a "nuclear mutant" led 100,000 European women to
choose unnecessary abortions after Chernobyl; (2) thousands of people avoid
life-saving medical procedures such as mammograms or radiotherapy because they 
invovle radiation; (3) regulatory roadblocks preventing management of harmless 
radiaoctive wastes are causing many hospitals to shut down radiomedical
treatment centers; ... " 

Thanks.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
jmuckerheide@delphi.com
Radiation, Science, and Health, Inc.
=============================

> > In the August issue of Health Physics, 73(2), 378-382, there is a note
> > by Kristin Shrader-Frechette and Lars Persson titled "Ethical Issues in
> > Radiation Protection."
> > 
> > Curiously they make no mention of these abortions.
> > 
> > I wonder if they do not see an abortion, induced by fear of radiation
> > exposure, as an ethical issue.
> > 
> > It seems to me that it is.
> 
>         Shrader-Frechette is an anti-nuke who does not seem amenable to
> rational discussion of issues. I got frustrated in trying to reason with
> her some years ago, and gave up.
>         Of course it is an ethical issue.