Straight Goods: Isotope crisis was a hoax according to CMA; a missed opportunity for opposition

[tuvor]

This week the Canadian Medical Association Journal confirmed what StraightGoods.ca and HarperIndex.ca have been reporting since December. The medical isotope crisis was a hoax.

In December, the NDP, Liberals and Bloc went along with the Harper government in overruling Canada's nuclear safety regulator based on spin from AECL, the giant health care corporation MDS Nordion and the government itself. The problem could have been avoided if MDS Nordion had joined international efforts to coordinate global production of isotopes.

The Journal reported that MDS has refused to share information with international colleagues about isotope supply issues out of competitive concerns. The Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday that there "is 'plenty of surplus capacity' among isotope suppliers," but MDS did not want word of this to get out lest their competitors gain market share.

The report confirms that the crisis was politically manufactured and that Canadian patients were forced to wait for treatment by market manipulation rather than a product shortage. It's too bad for all Canadians that the Opposition bought the bait, because it weakens every federal regulator and institution.

...

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature8.cfm?REF=75

[sorrywrongemail]

1. Wow

that's quite a story, thanks.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsRsUqlH1fiYTsH41ENTF6f9O_Sw


http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2008/02/05/4827678-sun.html "Nordion faulted in isotope crisis
Tue, February 5, 2008
European suppliers say the Canadian supplier at Chalk River refuses to share information.
By JOAN BRYDEN, CP"

And here's what looks like the source CMAJ article + PDF:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/rapidpdf/cmaj.080154 "Canada's Nuclear Fallout"