Re: Delusional individuals and how to deal with them

["Hans Messersmith" <Hmessers@isdh.state.in.us>]

Thanks for you advice.  I have discussed the principles of radiation with this gentleman, to no effect as yet.  With regards to physicians, he has seen at least 3 in the past couple of years, all of which have called me, all of which have found no symptoms of any sickness, let alone radiation induced sickness.  Oh well, we do what we can.

Hans J. Messersmith
hmessers@isdh.state.in.us
Indoor and Radiologic Health
Indiana State Department of Health


>>> <BLHamrick@aol.com> 09/18 7:22 PM >>>
In a message dated 98-09-18 17:02:38 EDT, Hmessers@isdh.state.in.us writes:

<< 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?  >>

As a radiological worker in a County organization, we got a number of these
calls over the years.  One way these calls were handled is, where it was clear
there was no realistic potential for exposure (one woman explained that her
neighbors had dug an underground series of tunnels for experimentation and
were irradiating her through her bedroom floor), we talked to the person about
the various consequences of radiation exposure, and symptoms of acute
exposure, and advised them that their first course of action should be to
discuss their own symptoms with their personal physician.

Barbara L. Hamrick
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html