Document npa825k4kE8kwV6mGgLJjdV8m

December 5, 1958 Dr. Earl W. Doty 295 LaVerne Avenue Belmont Shores Long Beach 3, California Dear Earl; I send you herewith a copy of the report of the analytical finding in the urine of Mr. L. E. Rice. The report and the letter will bo self-explanatory. I think I should comment on one aspect of your letter,, in that there seems to have been an undue hesitation on your part - or perhaps it was on the part of the other doctors - to examine this man and to send samples of blood and urine to us for analysis. Regardless of the source of the concern lest this man's anxiety be increased by the investigation of his status, I consider this to have been an unduly timid and unrealistic approach to the problem. Throughout the history of this business enterprise, we have been ready to investigate any case problem that arose. Indeed, we have been pledged, as a matter of policy, to the conduct of a medical investigation whenever it seemed necessary or pertinent. I have never known, an honest man or patient to react badly to a sincere effort to establish the facts. Pussyfooting with these problems invites suspicion add runs the risk of inviting litigation. We have nothing to cover up, and if v;e should find evidence of significant exposure to tetraethyl lead under any cf the conditions which we now believe to be free of hazard, we shall have to investigate further until the facts can be made clear. Your job is not to propitiate customers or their medical representatives, if such seems to be expected by the latter, but to maintain satisfactory conditions of working, and to establish the facts in a clear and definitive manner, if situations arise in which the precautionary measures which we have advised fail for any reason to be satisfactory, I suspect that you appreciate these matters, and that your manner of expressing yourself gave the wrong impression to me, Nevertheless, in order to keep matters straight between us, it seems wise to make this position quite clear. Never fear to investigate, and always undertake, by appropriate means, to establish the facts. It is by these means that we have managed to keep this industry responsible for proper performance. KB 0015313 Sincerely yours, Dr. Earl W. Doty * (2) - December 5, 1958 P. S. I came to the age of compulsory retirement on December 1, and am no longer responsible for the direction of Ethyl's medical affairs. You will be dealing with Dr. Kitzmiller, hereafter, in matters of policy and performance in connection with the day's work. Samples sent to the Laboratory for analysis, however, are my business, since I handle all of the work of the Laboratory that has to do with lead. You can continue, therefore, to advise me of the facts concerning requests of this type, with a copy to Dr. Kitzmiller, so that he will be aware of what goes on in relation to Ethyl and refinery personnel under your supervision. R.A.K. 0015314