SEATTLE 1968

[F.A. CARMICHAEL]

I have just been asked by a general dental practitioner if I knew
anything about an apparently weel known sereies of overexposures
of patients at a hospital in the late 60's. A patient of his was one of
this group of 200 who had a haemangioma treated with
radiotherapy when he was 2 and now lives in the UK and is refusing
all further x rays. His parents were told that he had his "full lifes
quota of radiation". He also states that 180 of the 200 have died.
He of course doesn't seem to know what ages these patients were
and how many died of causes directly caused by x ray exposure!
I was wondering if any of the American contingent knew of this
story as it was apparently a national scandal. It seems that nothing
will convince this patient that any further x rays are safe. Perhaps if
we had more information as to the sequalae of the other patients
he might be persuaded.
Fiona Carmichael
Dental and Maxillofacial Radiologist
Leeds Dental Institute
UK