Analyzing the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation

Experiments
In late 1993, investigative reports written by Eileen Welsome exposed data with subject
names in ethically questionable Plutonium experiments on humans in the United States. In the
wake of resulting political controversy, President Bill Clinton established the Advisory
Committee on Human Radiation Experiments to inquire information regarding such radiation
studies. In October 1995, during a White House ceremony, an executive summary along with a
full report of the advisory committees findings was published. The executive summary of the
advisory committee not only addresses the morality of the experiments, but also documents
implications for future scientific research and pushes the importance of governmental
transparency. Furthermore, the organization of the executive summary is geared towards these
three purposes, as well as a wide variety of audiences who may find the full reports usefulness.
Purposes & Related Audiences
Although the executive summary regarding the Advisory Committee on Human
Radiation Experiments appeals to many purposes, it excels on three topics: morality, scientific
research changes, and transparency. Chiefly, the executive summary explores the ethics
regarding human radiation experiments conducted in the United States. In many clearly indicated
sections, such as Apologies and Compensation, the report reflects upon ethically unjust
experiments conducted with radiation on humans. The executive summary then moves on to
denounce such experiments and settle rumors by utilizing a persuasive arrangement while
analyzing and overcoming objections regarding human radiation experiments (page 182).
Segments of writing such as these appeal to subjects and subjects family members for closure
on the stigma surrounding the controversial subject and compensation they are eligible for.
Secondly, the executive summary visits the past, present, and future differences regarding
regulations of scientific experiments on humans. In sub-topics such as Improved Protection for
Human Subjects, the executive summary explores and recommends regulations for scientific
research with human subjects (page 182). Similar bodies of text are directed to anyone interested
in education, research, or policy of human subject experiments in the United States. Last but not
least, the executive summary provides an introductive history as well as many sections that
examine federal policy of secrecy within research. In the Secrecy: Balancing National Security
and the Public Trust element, the importance of governmental transparency for environmental
releasing of radiation is expressed; thus catering to political parties, politicians, and advocates of
open government policy.
Organization & General Audience
In addition, the executive summary of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation
Experiments utilizes many characteristics of organization to appeal to many different audiences.
For instance, in the introduction of the executive summary, the authors not only summarized the
report and declared a thesis, but also included an extensive overview of every section of the total
report, a key feature of well-written executive summaries (page 172). This extensive detailing, as
well as the table of contents, allows audiences with different backgrounds, such as politicians
and past experiment subjects, to find the section pertaining to their interests and motives (page
172). Most importantly, the executive summary delivers clear, concise organization to readers of
any level with the use of bolded subtitles, italicized fonts for elaboration, bullet points for lists,
and hyperlinks for further documentation. These audience-broadening qualities champion the
executive summary of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments as an
excellent public document.