When I got around to reading the Sunday New York Times on Wednesday evening, this article caught my eye. It’s not really pertinent to what our law practice focuses on, medical malpractice, but it is a textbook example of how groups of veterans can fall through the cracks. The consequences are not merely unfair, they might well be deadly. There is really no question that these service members cleaning up these Pacific islands were placed in a potentially dangerous circumstance. And does it really surprise anyone that 40 years ago (or even now) those overseeing this effort on these distant islands might have been lax as to safety? I have no problem conceding that the cause and effect between radiation exposure and various future conditions may not be crystal clear. Science and medicine are rarely that clear cut. However, I don’t think that is the issue. It seems to me that our veterans should get the benefit of the doubt.
Congress has done that with other exposure situations. It needs to be done here. These veterans risked themselves for the benefit of our nation. Let’s give them the care they need and deserve.