Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to C. H. Grote on a Shredder for Confidential Medical Correspondence (1963)

A one-page confidential memo of February 26, 1963, from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J-M's medical director, to C. H. Grote at the Manville, New Jersey plant, copied to W. F. Fischer. Smith noted that master sheets used to duplicate "various medical documents" were being thrown out with other correspondence, though much of the information "should not be disclosed to anyone." He suggested buying "a small and inexpensive shredding machine," writing that "it is highly essential that all copies of correspondence of such confidential nature should be thoroughly destroyed so that our position in Workmen's Compensation claims cannot be doubted."

What it shows

The memo was written the same winter that Waukegan managers approved destroying records of possible lung disease cases (R. C. Smith's memo of January 28, 1963), and after the Manville plant had decided to release medical records only as the law required (letters of July 1961). It shows that J-M's medical director linked the handling of medical paperwork to the company's position in compensation cases.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

In a letter from Kenneth W. Smith to C.H. Grote at the Manville Plant dated 2/26/63 and entitled "Confidential Correspondence," Dr. Smith notes that Grote was making copies of medical documents using a duplicating machine which created a master which was then left for disposal along with other records of the employee relations department.

Smith suggested that the plant should purchase a shredding machine so that copies could be completely destroyed because: "It is highly essential that all copies of correspondence of such confidential nature should be thoroughly destroyed so that our position in Workmen's Compensation claims cannot be doubted."