DRAET
4016255
and
questions
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The following comments concerning the letter were prepere
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<A copy of this letter is attached.
om
about the medical program on their island,
1976,
ou
to Dr. J. L. Liverman of ERDA containing a series of coments
n
The people of Rongelap Atoll wrote a letter, datec October,
staff of
Brookhaven National Laboratory and ERDA.
The first comment is with regard to travel of Marsnallese patients to
the United States.
language,
Since only very few Americans know the Mershallese
it is indeed necessary to accompany patients chat come to the U.S.
for treatment by Marshallese attendants.
occasions,
Unfortunately,
this did not occur for various reasons.
on or about two
Every erfort will
be
made in the future to have all patients accompanied by =Euglish-speaking
Marshallese attendants.
Also when traveling outside the Trust Territory,
they will be provided with adequate traveling funds.
In addition,
the Trust
Territory officials will be urged to arrange necessary sapers such 2s passports well in advance,
Whenever the Brookhaven doctors are at Rongelap,
they give anyone with
Sickness the best treatment available under the circumstances.
As in the
past, any disease in an exposed person that appears to de caused by radiation exposure will be taken to the U.S.
for treatment if necessary.
In
the case that adequate facilities are available locally, patients that require hospitalization will be treated in the Trust Territory hospitals.
Dr. Knudsen will assist in the treatment of the patients at these hospitals.
Medicines needed for treatment at Rongelap that are not available from the
Trust Territory Department of Health Services will, if possible, be provided
by ERDA doctors,
We are sorry that there have been conflicting reports about the future
health of the exposed people of Rongelap.
with
the Japanese newspaper report
Ge 5011237
Specifically,
we
strongly disagree
that is 18 necessary to leave Rongelap
DRAFT
faery
Wega