From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

Human development is complex and diverse. We cannot count rings asin dating the longevity of a tree, and we must not give the impression thatwe can. These momentous decisions – for both the individuals affectedand for the INS — should not be based, even in part, on a flawed anderroneous understanding of human developmental biology.Another troublesome aspect of this program is the placing of an individualin a situation where he or she feels compelled to submit to a radiographicexamination that may not help him or her in the least. Thelicense to order radiographs for an individual carries with it significantresponsibility. Radiographic imaging cannot be compared to photographsor even fingerprints, it is an invasive procedure and must be guided bymedical ethical constraints.Another important question in this same line must be raised. Whenthousands of people are radiographed for “age determination,” whatbecomes of incidental findings noted on these radiographs? A radiographafter all is a diagnostic record; the bone can contain findings that areimportant to an individual. That the radiograph is being obtained to judge“age” should not absolve a dentist or physician from the responsibility toanalyze that film thoroughly. If the film reveals a cyst, an infection, evidenceof rickets or scurvy, evidence of an endocrinological condition thatis progressive and severe such as hyperparathyroidism, or lead lines thatindicate lead poisoning, is the patient (one becomes a patient at this point)advised, instructed, counseled or consoled? Even if one is being immediatelydeported, ethical constraints would seem to require some intervention.Dental films routinely contain incidental findings, e.g. periodontaldisease, deep dental decay, jaw cysts or tumors. Is the patient told of thisinformation contained on the radiograph or is the film just buried in afile? If a dentist or physician assumes the responsibility of taking the radiograph,he or she must assume the obligation of reviewing the whole film.To knowingly ignore pathologic findings is unconscionable. This is anissue of professional responsibility and basic human decency.Respectfully submitted,Nalton F. Ferraro DMD, MD202 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON