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treatment and subsequent examinations,
by the reports of its consultants,
it feels that,
as evidenced
(see Appendices) the examinations
are thorough and conducted in a professional and humane manner,
Especially alarming to the Committee,
as it must have been to
the Brookhaven team was the appearance last year of a fatal case of
acute myelogenous leukemia,
The Committee hopes that the persons
responsible for the examinations will give this new development the
attention which it deserves for the benefit of the people involved.
The Committee takes special note of a story in the Tuesday,
21,
November
1972,edition of the New York Times by Times science writer Walter
Sullivan, which discussed the death of
The story said in part:
“To prepare the way for the September trip two Japanese
physicians and another from Britain were included in the
party, and this apparently reassured the skeptics.
Had
the visit been made earlier, however, it is possible that
the leukemia case might have been identified at a less
‘ advanced stage."
The phrase "earlier"
is a reference to the fact that the annual
survey had been delayed six months for the reasons previously mentioned,
While it is possible that "detection" might have been
accomplished at the usual time of the survey,
it is the understanding
of the Committee that all forms of leukemia are ultimately fatal,
and that acute forms have shorter courses than chronic forms.
addition,
In
the Committee would like to state for the record that if
the period of six months is critical to the detection and remission
of leukemia or any other disease,
then perhaps consideration should
be given to having certain tests conducted on more than just a _oncea-vear basis.
on
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