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The Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory's Thyroid Function Study A Radiological Risk and Ethical Analysis (1996) / Chapter Skim
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4 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 62-66

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From page 62...
... , the additional radiological risk is extremely low, and radiation-induced thyroid cancers caused by the AAL study would not be expected in either the Alaska Native or white military personnel who participated as research subjects. Some health benefits may have been coincidentally provided because the researchers identified endemic goiter problems in Arctic Village and Anakcuvuk Pass.
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From page 63...
... Without judging the historical necessity of secrecy, and in recognition that even today some activities require national security classification, it is a fact that the ability of the Government to perform its post-Cold War missions is greatly impeded by pervasive public distrust of its motives and competence. The commitment to openness, of which this project is a very visible element, is a deliberate effort to rebuild that basic level of trust between the American nec)
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From page 64...
... (bJ In the process of contacting subjects and subjects' families, the Air Force should disseminate the Committee's report and other available information on human medical experimentation conducted by the ALL in the period 1948-Z967 to appropriate health care providers, tribal governments, anal other key figures in the relevant Alaska Native villages. This dissemination of information could be accomplished in the six affected Native villages by having a group of medical and ethical experts provide a briefing on the Committee's report at a town meeting and answer questions related to the AAL research.
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From page 65...
... Air Force should provide medical follow-up to those participants who were under age 20 at the time of the ALL study since those participants will be at risk for the longest period of time. Such follow-up would provide assurance that these participants suffered no [ong-terrn physical ill elects.
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From page 66...
... In the remote possibility that thyroid disease is found for those under 20, the Air Force should then reassess the issue and decide if more subjects should receive medical follow-up. The Committee recognizes that its basic conclusion-that the subjects of the AAL thyroid function study were wronged but not harmed-may prove controversial.
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Key Terms

  • function study
  • aal thyroid
  • thyroid cancer
  • aal study
  • research subjects

  • alaska native
  • native villages
  • received multiple
  • human subjects
  • thyroid disease

  • radiation research
  • multiple doses
  • native experts
  • army subjects
  • arctic village

  • radiation experiments
  • relevant alaska
  • human radiation
  • existing ethical
  • acknowledgment elf

  • justification based
  • greatly impeded
  • perspectives arise
  • complete understanding
  • force report

  • stress faced
  • contacting subjects
  • events conducted
  • health education
  • provide accurate


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