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Fwd: [DOEWatch] Walk out of the multi-agency public meeting on September 9, 1999


Once again I am forwarding the ongoing saga of the
dismal situation facing thousands of employees of the
DOE that relied on government to review and maintain
health records.  Privacy is not just an issue about
withholding information from those that wish to
intrude -- privacy is also the right to own records. 
Had these workers "owned" their records they would
have had the information before the government -- or
hopefully at least at the same time.  The issue of
"stealing" cannot be raised here.  The issue of the
lack of health care and health management and
notification is important but the withholding of
medical information for the sake of politics, to
prevent law suits, etc. by administrators and Federal
employees is criminal here.  Thousands of families
have been affected and many have died.

The exhausting debate about how medical information is
to be shared, etc., is important but the basic issue
is the right for the individual citizen to have access
to and ownership of all medical information in their
medical file -- anywhere, anytime.  
Note: forwarded message attached.


=====
Thistle
__________________________________________________
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Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com

From: Magnu96196@aol.com

Source:
<A 
HREF="http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste/news/nn10205.htm">http://www.state.nv.us
/nucwaste/news/nn10205.htm</A>
=====================================================
9/22/99

To the Editor:

Why did the majority of the ill people and their supporters walk out of the 
multi-agency public meeting on September 9, 1999? Many may be wondering why 
these people appear to be rejecting an attempt to address health concerns in 
Oak Ridge.

1. We are totally frustrated with endless meetings with the same people which 
produce no results and we can only see more of the same in the future.

2. The agencies have never responded to recommendations that were made after 
over 100 citizens interacted in a workshop format for 2 days in October 1997. 
We all recognize that DOE is the responsible party, but DOE refuses to be 
accountable to our community. They have the money and they control the issue.

3. We are disturbed and frustrated with having our well-articulated concerns 
and recommendations repeatedly ignored by the agencies.

4. The agencies have already said they cannot address our greatest need: 
diagnosis and treatment in the context of clinical research.

5. The agencies have already decided the process and structure of the health 
advisory committee–that of a federal advisory committee. This is counter to 
all principles of participatory planning, which would have the community 
involved from the very beginning of the discussions, rather than after 
pivotal decisions have been made.

6. Community members on the SSAB made the recommendation for an environmental 
health clinic through the prescribed process more than three years ago. DOE 
refused to honor that recommendation. Our experience with a FACA board has 
not been good. Why would we want another one?

7. The structure chosen gives the agencies the most control instead of the 
control being shared by those most directly affected.

8. We do not feel that the government is yet capable of working alone on 
these issues from the point of view of those who would be most affected by 
the research. If the government is the one in control, and is the one 
inviting people to participate in a "done-deal", then those who are most 
affected and most needed at the table, will refuse to come. Unfortunately, 
the affected people have more natural authority and expertise than anyone 
else in these matters.

There is a great need for a public health initiative in this community, but 
this current attempt is not the way to go. Once again, what we need is a 
world-class environmental health clinic staffed with independent physicians 
and researchers whom we trust, and who can examine, diagnose, and treat 
patients. We also recognize the need to gather the needed data on exposures, 
biomarkers, and treatment plans. Medical intervention and research can occur 
simultaneously. Under the present system with the contractor and its HMO 
controlling health care, we are denied medical diagnosis, treatment, and 
intervention.

The affected people need to feel comfortable "at the table" and the only way 
for that to happen is for the planning process to be fully participatory and 
collaborative. We are not the first citizens to leave the agencies' table. 
The downwinders in Utah and Nevada have long expressed the same concerns and 
are refusing to be parties to anymore of these affairs. We all want a full 
partnership at the table with the final decisions concerning what is, or 
isn't, going to be done about our health concerns left up to the affected 
people themselves to decide.

There is a growing unity among the nation's affected communities that there 
must be justice for all, not a few crumbs tossed here and there to shut up 
whomever is currently screaming the loudest or whose community has just been 
given a DOE "surprise package", as Paducah was recently. The federal agencies 
must develop solutions for and acceptable to all of the nation's affected 
communities. They must address the whole problem as a whole and not isolated 
parts of it. For once and all, we want a true partnership for everyone and 
not just one solution that is done to shut up a few and done only to look 
good on paper!

Coalition for a Healthy Environment (CHE)
Harry Williams, President
Janet Michel, Secretary
2106 Holderwood Lane
Knoxville, TN

Scarboro Community Oak Ridge Empowerment (SCORE)
Fannie Ball, President
51 Houston Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN

Oak Ridge Health Liaison
Romance Carrier
Sandra Reid
10 Asbury Lane
Oak Ridge, TN

American Environmental Health Studies Project
Jacqueline O. Kittrell
Clifford T. Honicker
318 Lynnwood
Knoxville, TN

Preston J. Truman
Downwinders
PO Box 111
Lava Hot Springs, ID

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