FUKUSHIMA Lives on the Line

158/306

154effect of “Nowhere in the world has such a survey of 2,000,000 people been implemented” and “All outcomes are likely to be negative.” However, if we did not conduct such a survey, what would happen in the future? ——So do you believe that this survey can bring some peace of mind to the prefecture’s residents?Kikuchi: The feedback will certainly benefit the respondents as well as the generations to come. It might be cumbersome, but personal interviews are more expensive and time-consuming. If they provide the requisite information, respondents will receive more accurate prescriptions and care during subsequent hospital visits. Without these forms, patients will lack medical history and be treated as new patients.——So even if the response is “I cannot recall,” it still forms a record?Kikuchi: Yes, but we want people to understand that submitting the survey forms does not mean that they are entitled to special or privileged care, discounted or waived medical fees, or life-long health care guarantee, such as that provided with the so-called atomic-bomb victims record book. On the other hand, neither are we trying to be rigid by saying “You have to hand these in for the sake of the future,” nor are we collecting the forms as data for epidemiological studies. Addressing the needs of all prefectural residents is difficult, but we want them to understand that this is solely for their own benefit. It is like a baseline survey that will assist with their future medical care. This provides us with a basis for future comparisons and a means for carrying out response efforts. The Three Responsibilities of FMU——Let me ask about the future. What is FMU going to pour its efforts into next?Shin-ichi KikuchiPresident and Chairman of the Board of TrusteesFukushima Medical UniversityGraduated from Fukushima Medical University in 1971 and joined FMU Hospital’s Orthopedic Surgery Department. Visiting physician at Toronto University’s Wellesley Hospital in 1977. Vice president of the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center’s Orthopedic Surgery Department in 1980. Director of Fukushima Prefecture’s Tajima Hospital in 1986. Professor of orthopedic medicine at FMU in 1990. Vice president of FMU Hospital in 2002. President of the FMU Medical School in 2004. Vice chairman of the FMU board of trustees and president of FMU Hospital in 2006. President of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research in 2007.

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer9以上が必要です