The Worried Well Response to CBRN Events

<p>Chemical biological radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons in the hands of a terrorist or a rogue state is one of the greatest threats to the security of the United States.2 These weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) can cause catastrophic loss of life and innumerable injuries and challenge the US health system beyond its capacity to provide care. Most hospitals do not have the beds equipment staff or facilities to adequately respond to a WMD event.34 Compounding this problem is that many people who have minimal or no exposure to a CBRN agent will seek medical care and slow down medical treatment of genuinely affected patients. These worried well 5 patients may comprise as many as 20 times the number of legitimate patients6 and may become one of the most difficult aspects in dealing with WMD events.7 This paper is an examination of the worried well phenomenon. It looks at three CBRN events that are often noted for unaffected masses seeking medical care--the Goiania Radiation Incident the Aum Shinrikyo Attack and the Anthrax Letters Incident. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First this paper provides a better understanding of the worried well response. The literature often contains bold proclamations of the problem without a substantial analysis and researchers cite cases but fail to provide any in-depth study of them.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>