Re: Delusional individuals and how to deal with them

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

> Has anyway had to deal with this situtation before?  What suggestions do
> you have?  Is it better to assist the person to get bioassays or other
> tests, even though they are not indicated at all?  To ignore the person
> completely?  To confront the person with your belief that he needs
> psyciatric help?  

Having dealt with this before, both while working for the Sate of FL, 
and also in the power reactor world, I suggest the following:

1. Don't be confrontational. They believe that they have been 
exposed to radiation. In their minds, this is real.

2. Suggest that they talk to a physicist, and have whatever tests 
run, to "quantify" if they have been irradiated. Address the 
individual's concerns as you would if the scenario were plausible. In 
other words, assess the potential. That means providing whatever 
analytical tests to "assure" the individual that they have NOT been 
irradiated. Whether or not the tests are really required, is not 
important. You could actually help this person back to reality, with 
respect to radiation exposure issues.

3. Have someone discuss the basics of radiation. Address natural 
background and other methods whereby an individual is continually 
exposed in our every day world.

4. If necessary, have the individual talk to a physician, one that you 
are familiar with, and isn't going to tell the fellow that he has been 
exposed to deadly radiation (that has happened). Be careful to 
whom you refer the individual.

5. You can't ignore this person. He could become very irrational.

In the end, none of this may help, but, you do the best you can.

Good Luck!

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
ICN Plaza
3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com

Personal Website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -

The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely those of the author, and NOT my employer
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