-4Recently, during a review of the medical program, the decision was made to expand the ERDA medical program as may be required to assist the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in providing general medical care to the people of Rongelap and Utirik. 5. a. The people of Utirik should be able to choose their own doctor: The people of Utirik do not like Dr. Knudsen because he does not examine all of the Utirik people, and looks at the people of Utirik as if they are merely animals in a scientific experiment; b. and further, he does not provide a "sick call" for the people. The people of Utirik do not like Dr. Conard because he lies to the people, and has not helped the people to understand the problems that they confront in regards to the radiation and its effects. We believe Drs. Knudsen, Conard, and Kotrady to be very capable and conscientious physicians who are deeply committed to the health and welfare of the people of Utirik. Moreover, as you are aware, in its report to the Congress of Micronesia, the Special Committee on Rongelap and Utirik commented favorably upon their work. Of course we are both surprised and distressed to learn of the dissatisfaction expressed by the people of Utirik. I feel that this must be due to misunderstanding and I am most appreciative of your efforts to assist us in resolving this problem. 6. a. b. Some years ago, the ERDA doctors discovered that a number of the Utirik people had adult-onset diabetes, and said that 25% of the people had the disease. Why haven't the ERDA doctors given medicine to the people who have the disease in Utirik (medicine: Diabinase)? Dr. Konrad Kotrady had asked the Trust Territory Gov't. (in Majuro) for the medicine (Diabinase), and they refused to give him any for the people of Utirik, and therefore, the people with this disease have not been properly treated. Because of our overall] concern for their welfare, the medical team has been studying diabetes in the Utirik people and other Marshallese people. With regard to the use of Diabenase in the treatment of this disease, Dr. James Field, an expert on diabetes from the University of Pittsburgh who had been studying diabetes in the Marshall Islands with the medical team, states that "there would be inherent risks in the use of the drug Diabenase in treating diabetes on Utirik or other outer islands in the Marshalls since long-term medical supervision and laboratory tests are necessary to insure its safe and effective use." WMstb