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RADIATION STANDARDS, INCLUDING FALLOUT

297

Representative Price. On page 3 you say it is also evident that the
means to accomplish significant improvement are at hand. You are
talking about radiation exposure, and so forth, there?
Dr. Cuampzruain. Yes, sir.
;
Representative Price. What are the means that you are thinking
about here ?
Dr. Cuampertain. I think they are exactly the ones that the National Committee on Radiation Protection has been drumming into
everyone. Generally, the increase in filtration, the more careful use
of cones and such things that have to do with equipment, but even
more importantly the educated judgment of the people who choose
what procedures to do and how often to do them on whichpatients.
This to my mind isthe place at which the great improvementin the
intelligent use of radiation can be achieved.
Representative Pricz. Also on page 3 of your statement you say
that many of the most important technical factors in dosage reduction also depend on highly skilled application of intelligence rather
than inherent characteristics of radiation apparatus.
Dr. CHamMBerLaiIn. Yes, sir.
Representative Price. Do all doctors and dentists have this skill?
Dr. CHaMBerLAIN. This goes through on to techniques and to
everyone who is involved in this. I think that, as I seem to be repeating myself as to what I said a couple of years ago, there is a
variation in this expertise, but I hope that this survey of our educacational program indicates that itisimproved. At least a great number of us who are practicing medicine think it is improved. The
medical schools are doing something aboutit, too.
Representative Price. Lamtalking about the questionnaire on page
4. Yousay atotal of 49.4 percent replied to this questionnaire.
Dr. CHAMBERLAIN. Yes.
Representative Price. What about the other 50 percent ?
Dr. CuampBertain. Of course 50 percent is pretty good for a questionnaire reply in medicine.
Representative Price. This is a highly technical professional thing.
Dr. Cu amMBerRLAIN. Yes, sir.

Representative Price. [ would say in a normal questionnaire this
would be an exceptional response.
Dr. Cuampberrnary. I thought it was pretty good. At Jeast 50 percent that replied gave 15,000 speeches, and I don’t know whetherthe
other 50 percent gave none or gave a few more. I thought it was
pretty good.
_ Incidentally, our reply from the State medical societies was also
Just about a 50-pereent reply. Perhaps doctors get so much mail
that they are not as careful about looking at it as they should.
Representative Price. Do you think they get as much as we get?
You state on page 5 that the average numberof hours in the medical
echool on radiation safety given to medical students is 44.

Do vou

think this is adequate?
Dr. Crrampernain. Of course, if this were the only mention made
of radiation protection and radiation control IT would say it ts not
aclequate.
I would like to see that raised some, too, but it is difficult to know

just what you ought to do in medical curricula, picking out separnte

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