Problems in managing radioactive evidence: The medical viewpoint

Traditional wisdom leads us to conclude that the provision of health support to a population is independent of political drivers and that the needs of the patient, especially where life-saving intervention is called for, are uppermost. However, is if often reported that health facilities are targeted or are the subject of collateral damage. This has the potential to release materials that whilst intended for diagnosis or therapy, can if uncontrolled add significant risk to an unprotected and exposed population. Of more subtle consequence to the health provider but of potentially greater impact is the so-far hypothetical use of rad-nuc agents as a strategic weapon. Such agents have been used on specific targets and their presence and subsequent analysis have presented challenges to the organisations tasked with the provision of care. In such cases, the materials concerned constitute evidence and how such evidence is collected and managed present major difficulties from the time of patient admission through to discharge. (author)