Hugh S. Pratt M.D.
October 7, ly .
Page three

of cancer.

I do not beleive this point was ever really stressed in the translation.

The questions from the people of Rongelap to the medical croup were incisive and

difficult to answer via a translator; ie, what is the relationship between long
term radiation and stomach cancer; what relationship is there to uterine cancer,
etc.?

It appears to me that the educational program instituted by Dr. Naidu should

carry a very high priority and should attempt to clarify the huge spectrum of
diseases called "cancer" and to point out the myriad etiologies we now know to be
operative - in addition to radiation, and stress the curability of cancer in some
cases (especially the thyroid).

This message must be understood by the entire

population under study and any representatives from the media or from legislative
bodies who are interested in the well being of the Marshallese.

As I see it,

this program should emphasize early detection and prevention and de-emphasize
reparations for morbidity and mortality we cannot control.

Based upon my personal experiences with the program and my review of a number
of publications, I find several questions and problems still unanswered in my
perception of the evolution and future goals of the study.

I realize that the

answers to many of these areas of interest are probably available in the files,
however,I feel the resolution of these questions and problems would do a great deal
to bring a greater degree of cohesion to the data.
into three categories.

I have divided the problems

There will, of course, be a significant degree of overlap

for many of the problems.

The categories are:

1.

Communications

2.

Experimental Design and Documentation

3.

Inter-agency Authority and Responsiblity

Select target paragraph3