Medical resources and requirements for responding to radiological terrorism

Medical planning and response to radiological terrorism is different than planning or responding to an event such as a nuclear power plant accident. The major differences are that now we must plan for multiple simultaneous events, suicide scenarios, and the possibility of biological, chemical, and radiological agents being used at the same time. This demands an "all-hazards" approach and not just a radiological response. An overview of the issues related to diagnosis, treatment, training, and resources is provided. Although the requirements for medical management are clear, the available resources have not been applied in a manner that results in adequate preparedness for radiological events.