[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Why nuclear is a "no-win" in the USA -Reply -Reply
A statement in the Health Physics Society directory states that, "The Society
is a professional organization dedicated to the development, dissemination and
application of both the scientific knowledge of, and the practical means for,
radiation protection...." Thus, I would define a health physicist as a
professional whose work implements these objectives. Obviously, a
"professional" must be a member of a profession. This leads to the question,
"What is a profession?" My own definition is that a profession must possess 3
essential characteristics:
(1) A profession must require its members to possess certain knowledge and
skills.
(2) A profession must serve some public need.
(3) A profession must be recognized by the public as being the authority in
its area of responsibility. That is, when a member of a given profession
engages in the practice of that profession, the only persons who can provide
credible criticism of this practice are other members of that profession; eg.,
if you want to sue a physician for malpractice, you need to get another
physician to testify.
I ask my peers for their thoughts on whether health physics meets these
criteria. I don't doubt the first 2, but I'm concerned about the 3rd.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
Here's to a risk free world, and other fantasies.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@detroitedison.com
rdasafe:
this suggest another question: what is a health physicist? is it someone who
belongs to the health physics society? is it someone who was made a health
physicist by his employer ( or a radiation safety officer)? is it someone who
is a consultant and has read a book on radiation protection (safety)? who is
this person? jobs are there!
at nuclear power plants i understand that about half of the rpm's are members
of the health physics society. if this is the professional organization of
the health physicists in the USA then all "practicing health physicists"
should be members ?
robert m. ryan
ryanchp@aol.com