―――――― Medical Misconduct ――――――
USRC Medical Interference
Dial-painters working in a factory (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
The USRC used its authority to conceal the true harms of radium, silencing many ailing employees.
The USRC pressured many Radium Girls into undergoing medical examinations from Dr. Frederick Flinn to determine the cause of their illnesses. Unknown to the women, Flinn was being employed by the USRC and thus supported the company's agenda to silence the Radium Girls.
Letter from Roeder to Frederick Hoffman, doctor of Radium Girl Katherine Schaub:
“We [USRC] would be very glad to have Dr. Frederick B. Flinn...see the particular patient whom you mention.” (Roeder, Arthur. Letter to Frederick L. Hoffman.)
- Arthur Roeder, November 1926
Flinn writes to Schaub, encouraging her to get herself and other Radium Girls examined by him:
“I am very anxious to examine as many of the former employees of the Orange plant as I can” (Flinn, Frederick. Letter to Katherine Schaub. 7 Dec. 1925)
- Flinn
“I should be very glad to have you bring with you any of the other girls that worked with you at that time.”
(Pinterest)
“I was
in no way physically examined” (Schaub, Katherine. Katherine Schaub Testimony. July 1927)
- Katherine Schaub
“Mr. Flinn told me that I was not seriously ailing and that I need not worry”
“He further told me that certainly none of the ill effects which I had describe to him could in any way be attributed to my employment at the United States Radium Corporation.”
Flinn wasn’t even qualified to give Schaub a medical examination since his doctorate was in philosophy, not medicine.
Dr. Flinn’s Doctor Titles from Columbia University
(Haithi Trust. "Columbia University Alumni Register, 1754-1931)
Similarly, Roeder submitted a fraudulent copy of Drinker’s report to the NJ Department of Labor. Alice Hamilton reveals this to Drinker in a letter:
Alice Hamilton, physician and partner of Cecil Drinker
(Photo of a Young Alice Hamilton with a White Blouse)
“The Department has a copy of your report and that it shows that ‘
every girl is in perfect condition.’ Do you suppose Roeder could do such a thing as to issue
a forged report in your name?” (Hamilton, Alice. Letter to Cecil Drinker. 4 Apr. 1925)
- Alice Hamilton
The USRC also interfered with autopsies of Radium Girls. Darlene Halm, niece of Radium Girl Peg Looney, recalls the events surrounding her aunts’ autopsy:
“The Company wanted to bury her right away” (McAndrew, Tara McClellan)
- Darlene Halm
“Radium Dial agreed to autopsy her (Looney) body and to have the Looneys' doctor present for it. But
when their doctor arrived, the
autopsy was finished” (McAndrew, Tara McClellan)
- NPR Illinois
Art Fryer, nephew of Grace Fryer, discloses his aunt’s experience (Fryer, Art)