PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
Mr. Brian Farley
~2-
October 13, 1972
Majuro also treatment was recommended on some of the people examined
to the local medical officers. In the interest of trying to promote
a better communication between the examining doctors and the Marshallese
examined, an attempt was made at the completion of each examination to
explain to the person through an interpreter the general results of
the examination and possible treatment recommended.
At each island clinical conferences were held by the physicians,
including the medical observers, Dr. Riklon and the health aide, to
evaluate all cases examined and to recommend treatment and disposition.
a tee
In some cases, the health aide was advised as to further treatment.
In other cases, Dr. Knudsenswas asked to sea certain cases on his
return visit to the islands.
In other cases transfer to the Majuro
hospital were recommended for further evaluation and treatment. At
Rongelap there were two hospital cases and at Utirik five cases.
See
We took them with us on the Militobi to Majuro.
None of these people
appeared to have conditions related to radiation exposure.
When we
left Majuro at the end of the survey, the two Rongelap women were
being further examined.
Four of the five Utirik cases were found to
have conditions that could be treated on their home island and they
were to be returned.
consultation.
The other case from Utirik needed further
There were important findings in three exposed people who lived
at Majuro. Two young exposed girls had developed thyroid nodules
since last examined in 19971.
They were
(female, age 19)
who had been exposed at one year of age at Ailingnae. The other girl
was
(female, 29) who had been exposed on Rongelap at age 12.
Surgical removal of these nodules is of course necessary. Dr. Brown
Dobyns at the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, who operated
on many of the other Marshallese thyroid cases, has agreed to cperate
on chese as soon as it is possible to arrange transportation of the
patients to Cleveland. Preliminary arrangements have already been
atarted for thia.
The third case is more serious.
male, age 19, who
was exposed at one year of age on Rongelap was found to have a low
white blood cell count during the survey. A repeat count later in
the survey was even lower. This boy had previously had thyroid surgery
for removal of benign nodules of that gland in 1968 and when last
examined in March 1971 he was found to be healthy. In view of the
alarmingly low blood count and after consultation withhs father, we
took
with us to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. They were
unable, however, to get a successful bone marrow examination and we
decided to take him back to Brookhaven National Laboratory. I am
sorry to report that the diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia was
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