reat PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED IQ lo jo Tan AVE ES Medical Department 7 Brockhaven National Laboratory Upton, Long Island, New York 28 Yarch 1956 Dr. Charles L. Dunham, Director Division of Biology and “edicine Atoaia Energy Comssion Vashington 2s, De Ce BEST COPY AVAILABLE | Dear Dr. Dunhaar The medical team returned 15 March 1956 from the tro-year medical resurvey of the Rongelap people amd controls. Everything went extremely smoothly with a minimm of difficulties. Johnston Island, howaver, seens to have a ztagnetic effect for our group since once again we had V AWdOISOd St Enclosed is a prolizinary report of the two-year medical resurvay findings in the Rongelap people and controls. “hile we «acre at Haduro, a United Nations! group visited the atoll. Great Oritain, India, Belgiun, Guatamala and China were represented. They conferred with us on the status of the Marshallese. A copy of the report which I submitted to them la snclosed. They seened to be favorably inpressed with the handling of the problen. PE ail NOWLODSTION There are saveral specific problems and recomendationa which I would like to bring up, Host of the problems center around the return of tha Rongelap people to their home atoll. Upon their return to Rengelap, the people will be almost coapletely isolated and their only contact with the outside world will be the visiting Trust Territory fleld trip oyOD pray EM F-VIITE ship which wiil touch off there, at most, every three or four tonths. This will mean that the people will have to depend almoat entirely for medical care on their medical aid man ‘ §= ,. His training is such that only the barest first air care can be expected from him. Since these people have ruceived significant amounts of radiation, the long term effects of which are uncertein, and in view of the wmique worldwide interest in these people, disproportionate radiological importance may be attached to any disease that may develop among thea and any suggestion of negligence in madical attention may be the cause of great embarrasment. This problen is not easily soluble. The easiest way out would be, in my opinion, to leave the people at Majuro. However, since we are connitted to return the people to their hanes and that is also thelr express wish, we must consider other measures. The following might be considered, (1) Establish radio communications on Rongelap. This rould probably also require training ons of the Rongelap people in the use [182281 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL RE MOVED ww by e a CN XOG 7 “Kees b30104 to spend 2) hours there due to angine trouble.