Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
TMI and the politics of public health (1980)

AuteurG.K.MacLeod
Datumnovember 1980
Classificatie 3.01.8.11/30 (VS - LOCATIES - HARRISBURG)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

TMI AND THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC HEALTH*

BY
GORDON K. MACLEOD, M.D., F.A.C.P.**

A NEAR NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE OCCURRED JUST OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AT THREE MILE ISLAND. 
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT JUST COULDN'T HAPPEN-AFTER ALL, NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS WERE BUILT 
SO SAFELY THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY AFFECT THE PUBLIC’S HEALTH.

YOUR BEING HERE REFLECTS A CONCERN ON YOUR PART FOR THE HEALTH IMPACT OF THAT 
ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT COULD RELATE TO THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT INDIAN POINT.
AND, I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT CONCERN.
SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND, WAS PERSUADED BY THE NEW GOVERNOR 
OF PENNSYLVANIA TO TAKE A TWO-YEAR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 
TO BECOME PENNSYLVANIA'S SECRETARY OF HEALTH. I ACCEPTED THE APPOINTMENT IN THE SPIRIT 
THAT PUBLIC SERVICE ISBOTH A PRIVILEGE AND AN OBLIGATION, THE PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH 
DEPARTMENT WAS RATED BY ONE COLLEAGUE AS 50TH OUT OF 50 AND NEEDED TO BE RESTRUCTURED. 
AFTER ALL, IT HAD NO PLACE TO GO, BUT UP.
JUST TWELVE DAYS AFTER BEING SWORN IN AS SECRETARY OF HEALTH, I HAD TO FACE 
THE TMI ACCIDENT, THE LIKES OF WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN THRUST UPON A PUBLIC HEALTH 
OFFICER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,

*PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION FOR THE NEW YORK CITY AND OLD WESTBURY CHAPTERS OF 
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL REPONSIBILITY ON NOVEMBER 22, 1980 AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AUDITORIUM, 420 WEST 118TH STREET, NEW YORK CITY.

**PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN OF HEALTH SERVICESADMINISTRATION, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF 
PUBLIC HEALTH AND ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, 
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH, PA 15261.

Deze publicatie is alleen op papier bij Laka beschikbaar, niet als pdf.
Publicaties zijn te leen of informeer of we een kopie kunnen maken. Soms, als we tijd hebben, lukt dat tegen kostprijs van de kopieën.