Re: settlement - ludicrous!

[Steven.Rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     On Fri, 7 May 1999, Dianah Williams wrote:
     
     >I think this issue is more about the lack of ethics on behalf of the 
     >U.S. government.  Put yourself in the place of the individual who 
     >doesn't understand radioactive materials and then is exposed to 
     >radiation without their consent.
     
     
     I disagree 100% with this assertion. I believe that this settlement 
     has everything to do with the lack of ethics on behalf of the lawyers 
     and the plaintiffs involved. They found an easy and painless way to 
     get a "free" $50,000 and took it. We can try to place the blame on the 
     media, the government (pick one), LNT, the medical establishment, 
     etc., but that's just ducking the real root cause of these types of 
     settlements.
     
     I would challenge all RADSAFERS to ask themselves what they would do 
     in this situation: A lawyer calls you and says that your deceased 
     grandparent, who lived to an age of 80+ years, was involved in this 
     "experimental" treatment, and that he can get you $50,000 or more with 
     absolutely no payment to him or involvement on your part if you simply 
     allow your relative's name to be used in the lawsuit. How many of you 
     would take the money and run?
     
     Before anyone flames me for insulting them, I'm just trying to put 
     this into the proper perspective. Many (most?) lawsuits brought in 
     this country have everything to do with getting "free money" and 
     little or nothing to do with real damage or injury. Unfortunately, 
     many such suits are settled, like this one, because the cost of 
     winning the case is far more than just settling it. As a former part 
     owner of a company involved in a wrongful discharge lawsuit by a 
     terminated employee, I've been there, done that.
     
     Let's face it, educating the public, arguing about the LNT, adopting 
     hormesis as an official position, etc. won't stop these types of 
     lawsuits or settlements.
     
     O.K, it's someone else's turn to get on the soapbox.....
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP, CSP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS, LLC
     srima@doegjpo.com
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