The Nuclear Arms Race and the Physician

To the Editor: The recent Sounding Board article by Lown et al.* advocating that physicians form an international spearhead to abort the arms race was thought-provoking. However, even if one grants their questionable premise that physicians have more interest and expertise than does the rest of mankind, one wonders in which direction physicians should lead on the specific issues raised. Increased stockpiles and proliferation of nuclear weapons appear to increase the likelihood of everything from a full superpower nuclear exchange“by accident”to a limited assault (i.e., one, two, or three bombs) by fanatics, terrorists, or small powers. It appears. . .