C
8.
C
With regard to the question of "guinea pigs" or victims of
circumstances (pp. 133-153), no responsible government officials or
scientists would undertake to expose human populations such as the
Marshallese or the U. S. servicemen on Rongerik to damaging amounts
of radiation to gain scientific information.
On the other hand,
when exposures have occurred, whether they be in Japan, the Pacific,
in watch dial painters or in criticality accidents in the nuclear
industry, scientific observations have been made and studies have
been carried out.
The benefits from these observations and studies
sometimes accrue to the individuals themselves and at other times to
persons who will be exposed in the future.
9.
Relative to AEC influence on the medical survey team, the AEC
has a contractual arrangement with Brookhaven National Laboratory to
conduct surveys in the Marshall Islands (pp. 143-144).
This arrange-
ment provides a means of guaranteeing that the surveys will be performed
reliably and with maximal continuity.
Almost 20 years of surveys that
have been led by the same individual and have enjoyed the respect of
the scientific community bear testimony to the success of this arrangement.
The AEC neither interferes with the conduct of the surveys nor
with the content of the publications.
10.
Medical judgment was exercised in the decision not to use anti-
biotics prophylactically during the period of acute effects after the
detonation and also in the timing of the start of thyroid hormone
therapy (pp. 144-149). The decisions were made by competent physicians,
who had a sincere concern for the welfare of the patients, and were in
keeping with accepted medical practice. Since medicine is not an exact
science, medical judgment is frequently subject to challenge, especially
in hindsight. In spite of the possibility that other physicians might
have decided these matters differently, there seem to be no adequate
grounds for challenging the competence and sincerity of these physicians
or of their judgment in these and other instances cited in the Report.
11. Concerning recommendations (pp. 173-175), the AEC has under study
a program of increased medical surveillance including the presence of
a physician in the Islands like Dr. Knud Knudsen of Brookhaven National
Laboratory if a suitable person can be found. Statutory authorities
and responsibilities affect the role that the AEC can play in the medical
program for the Marshallese, Within those limitations the AEC will cooperate as much as possible with the Government of the Trust Territory
and the Congress of Micronesia in promoting the health of the people.
1
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