Re:x-rays

[Andrew McEwan <Andrew@nrl.moh.govt.nz>]

Franz

Your comment
"Finally one should not forget a traditional and conservative method to
check whether a suspect is smuggling drugs in his/her stomach: Laxatives
and waiting. Then one would have followed the ALARA principle."

reminds me of an event here.  Administering laxatives to a smuggler who 
refused examination wasn't permitted so the person was lodged at a hotel 
with a non-flushing toilet arrangement but refused all food for 1 week. Then 
the Police had to get another court order to hold him for a further 7 days. 
 I believe he managed to hold out for around 14 days before 'producing the 
evidence'.

I think in this situation the cost to society more than outways the 
detriment to the suspect from the radiation dose from x-ray examination. 
 Further, there is commonly a benefit to the smuggler as cases of ruptured 
swallowed containers have led to life threatening situations for some drug 
smugglers.

Andrew McEwan

_________________________
Andrew C McEwan PhD
National Radiation Laboratory
PO Box 25-099
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph 64 3 366 5059
Fax 64 3 366 1156
acmcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz
________________________

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