Flawed Data Prompts Review of Agent Orange Finding

WASHINGTON – Australian researchers have acknowledged errors in a study of the incidence of leukemia among the children of Australia’s Vietnam veterans.  After correcting for faulty data, the Australian study no longer showed that children of Australia’s Vietnam veterans face a greater risk of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a deadly form of the disease.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) relied upon the Australian study in April when it cited a connection between some strains of childhood leukemia and a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi has asked IOM to reevaluate the medical evidence linking Agent Orange exposure to AML in light of the corrected data.

“I hope that Agent Orange does not cause the children of Vietnam veterans to develop this dreadful disease,” Principi said. “If the scientific evidence shows a link, I will support creating benefits for these children of Vietnam veterans.  But, first, I believe we must ensure that we are basing our commitments upon sound scientific evidence.”

On April 19, IOM reported that it found “limited/suggestive” evidence of a connection between a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and children who contract AML.

The next day, Principi called for legislation that would provide federal benefits to children with AML who have a parent who served in Vietnam.  Less than a month after that decision, on May 16, Australian researchers said they had discovered errors in their study.

Principi has signed a contract with IOM, asking the independent advisory board to take a second look at evidence linking AML to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.  The IOM expects to issue another report evaluating the evidence of a link in January 2002.

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