Z i g 3 @ a] 4 # Mm i fa a ™ Kriday, September 2, 1983 ‘MARSHALL ISLANDS JOURNAL Volume 14, Number 70 Radiation Illness Widespread Page 13 of all the Micronesian countries. Nor f should they be postponed the many years it may take before the United States Congress acts on the Compact of Free a ne me eee even if it is approved.bythe Nearly 2000 people, including children ectinttenthAssociation nt ee Mh 8 local leaders on Ebeye. that they be referred to see Dr. Hamilton for a complete evatuation in Majuro. At the completion of the examination on each atoll, a list of the people recommended for complete evaluations is given to the health aide as well as copies to th« mayor and senator from each atoll or to The purpose ofthis article is to describe The reason Dr. Hamilton began these health care of all the Marshall Islanders the medical evaluation program of the examinations in June, 1983 was because ~ it has never conducted health care surMarshall istands Atomic Testing Litigation he began to find a large number of preveys and examinations of all the people. Project. Dr. Thomas Hamilton, M.D., viously undiagnosed thyroid tumors on also it has never done a complete, inPh.D, is a medical consultant to MIATLP people living in Majuro who were all dependent, radiological survey of all the § and has been performing complete medi- ‘from the northern Marshall Islands listed islands and atolls. Therefore no one cail evaluations on Marshallese people above. This suggested the possibility that knows how many of the islands are conradiation from nuclear fallout from the since November of 1982. The purpose of taminated by radioactive materials and these evaluations is to detect radiation 1954 Bravo explosion (and possibly some no one knows how many people suffer of the other 65 explosions between 1946 injuries, however, this can be done adefrom illness caused by nuclear testing. quately ONLY if complete medical evai- and 1958) may have contaminated many The government of the United States uations are performed. Therefore all atolls other than Enewetak, Rongelap, has admitted that the atolls of Enewemedical proglems are diagnosed whether and Utirik. It will take at least another 6° tak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Utirik were they are radiation related or whether ‘,to 8 months to complete these examinaaffected. We had seen enough medical they are not radiatian related. The com- tions on the people from the above named problems on the otheratolls to fear that the problem was much more widespread. plete evaluations are performed in Maju-- ‘atolls. However, the preliminary informaro; each individual person has a 2-3 hour We are sorry to see that Dr. Hamilton's tion showsa large number of thyroid tumors as well as a numberof othersignifi- . preliminary findings suggest that this is evaluation which includes completing a medical questionngire, talking with the cant medical problems which were untrue. These findings should cause the Unidoctor, a complete physical examination, diagnosed and untreated. The purpose in _ ted States to immediately start radiologicand taboratory tests. Finally, a medical al and medical surveys of all the islands identifying these people on these atolls report is prepared and a copy isincluded with these problems is to recommend and all the people so that those affected can be treated and so that further injury from contaminated atolls or poisoned food can be prevented. “ich surveys are needed now. They sho- | uld not await the outcome of plebiscites fas a permanent part of each person's 4% hospital record. In addition, a copy of this report is provided. to the MIATLP attomeys. People who have serious medical problems are immediately referrm ed by Dr. Hamilton to either local phym sicians or in some cases are presented to @ the Referral Committee for referral to Z honolulu. In each case a copy of Dr. Hamilton’s report is provided to the physici_an._Everv_individual a-final emer meee ere Sat: rea pttbeehehdan sree ete ~ 4