To the Editor: Terrorists and torturers read the scientific literature in order to learn new ways of inflicting pain and avoiding prosecution. The scientists who created polio virus in their laboratory and published the results (front page, July 12) have played into the hands of state-sponsored perpetrators who have the intention of developing instruments of mass destruction. The United States and the international community need a system of governance and public debate to monitor, curtail and punish those scientists who engage in this type of reckless behavior. RICHARD F. MOLLICA, M.D.
Boston, July 14, 2002
The writer is director, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Massachusetts General Hospital. Um...someone should tell this guy that lots of innovative things can be turned into something that can be used against us. Punishing scientists for being creative isn't going to stop terrorists. If terrorists wanted to create a virus, I am sure that they already could figure out how to do it without the inspiration of the news article. Scientists and Terrorists | 
