Citation

Frank E. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2005; 331(7516): 526-527.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic PA 15213, USA. franke@upmc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.331.7516.526

PMID

16150743

PMCID

PMC1200573

Abstract

On 11 September 2001, 3400 people died because of four horrific, intentional plane crashes. These individuals' only unifying characteristic was that they were in the wrong place in America at the wrong time. Their deaths, and those of Londoners killed on 7 July 2005, highlighted our vulnerability to terrorism and launched an avalanche of repercussions. As a response to these deaths, several subsequent deaths from anthrax, and other current and potential terrorist threats, the US government redefined and redirected its role in funding for public health. Governments must protect their citizens, and anticipating these possible future threats is appropriate and could prove essential to Americans' health. However, there is also an immediate and real threat that because of the US government's policy, enormous numbers of Americans will die unnecessarily.