E?
racli&?tiGn-related
disease
tcr the
the medical
program
to address
This restriction
has made
little
exclusion
af other
problemsthere
is nc “marker”
for a radiation-related
sense
in that
to physicians
who prefer
disaase.
It also has made
little
sense
medical
care
in =
not to he handicapped
with
limits
on their
It has made !-a
population
where
medical
care
is already
]imitfsd.
sense
in that not all is known
about
l’”adiaticn-induc ed disease’.
Confar-ming
tcr public
law limitations
has bee}] carried
out by
on
anyone’s
part
to restrict
nec=ssit~
but not by a willingness
C~i-~.
With! the Compact
medical
this restriction
can now be
which
is
remo\4ed
: tnere
is no limitation
of care to the exposed
expressedly
radiation-related
.
Despite
public
law restrictior,s
has been permitted
to evolve
P=STS
the B~Gckhaven
program
in the
!2Ut internally
interpretation
of what may
a liberal,
cnnsistentq
be considered
radiation-related.
Since
what
is goGd medical
EO
applies
just as well
practice
far racii~+til~l~-relatab le disease
general
medizirle,
thfe new definition
of the medical
program
commi t,Mei-lt5u~id=r the Compact
greatly
the coi~t~nt
wi 11 not change
Df the present
prografim except
That area
is the
in one area.
r_2fe,-i-al
, outsic!e
the Republic
of the [“larsi~all Islands?
of
,meaica] p-ablems
in the exposed
witho$ut consideration
of a
p.35sible
radiation
etiology.
T1-,ereforeS furtding for referralz
hill
incre=ss
significantly;
the decision
as to whether
to ref=r
refer
becomes,
howe;ei-,
a streiqht-forward
and
37 tG rIOt
nor!cGntentiatis
one.
It is important
that funding
for referrals
and
fundir,q
for medical
program
ctperations
remain
separate
budget
iteoms.
This will obviate
competition
between
the two components
during
tha fiscal
year.
Glthouqh
the requirement
that the Department
of Energy
corltinue
to lmaintain a radio logic health
care program
was deleted
wording
of the Compact,
in the final
statements
in other parts af
the document
and in communications
from
the Marshall
Islands
government
indicate
a preference
that the present
program
cantinue.
It is not stated,
however>
that the present
program
is
acceptable
to the exposed,
a feature
which
would
seem
to be
particularly
relevant.
were
Even
if continuation
uf the program
the choics
Gf
the exposed?
if not probable,
that
it is possible?
the choic=
Aas made because
of the lack of reasonable
.aite~”’nati..ss. On= should
not ccnclude,
tf%erefore,
that the
present
pi-cgr=rn, while
acceptable?
is good enough?
and an
the
scop.e of the program
is planned.
eyitensicil! cf
The core of
the program
will ccntinue
to be directed
at radiakiDn-relatGb
le
disease,
h:=wever, and the exter,ded
sccrpe of the p~””oqram will nut
include
unrealistic
ventures
which
wotild be irresponsible
in the
use af the llmited
fur)ds allocated
to the p]-05i-am.
But certain
srzas
of rn=dicine which ‘may improve
the health
of the exposed
will bE ci~.ie:aped mare fully.
Examples
include
greater
attention
.. .

.

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