Occupational Health Clinic That Treated Ground Zero Workers Faces Criticism

Sheila Chavis

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A recent article in the New York Times raises questions about the accuracy of data and reports presented by the clinic that took on the responsibility of screening and examining volunteers and people who were working at Ground Zero. The Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine has examined more than 15,000 workers and volunteers and has overseen the examination of 5,000 more at clinics elsewhere. The clinic is based at Mount Sinai Medical Center and has a history of being a medical advocate for occupationally injured workers - primarily lung-related diseases, and most recently repetitive motion injuries.

Most individuals view the work done by the small clinic, at a time when the city's workers and volunteers were in great need but resources were low, as nothing less than heroic and beyond reproach.

However, in today's highly political and economically-challenged business climate, the clinic is garnering criticism for their support of the workers and their inability to collect the most accurate data - mostly due to limited time and resources.

The Selikoff Center has been criticized for blurring the line between scientific observation and alarmism in acting like an advocate for worker causes. But its doctors say that an aggressive approach is necessary in occupational health because employers tend to challenge complaints about workplace safety.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Workers Compensation.