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Janet L. Dobson, MD
Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur Columbus, Ohio

JAMA. 1989;261(8):1149.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor. —

It comes as no surprise that society pays for the majority of health care for injured motorcyclists.¹I am surprised, however, that Rivara et al¹ jump to the conclusion that their data support mandatory helmet laws. As stated by the authors, no comparison of helmeted vs nonhelmeted motorcyclists was made in their study. Their conclusion is supported only by reference to a study that dealt with fatalities, not costs.

Some people theorize that helmet laws result in greater overall cost to society because individuals who otherwise would have been killed survive with severe permanent disabilities. I was hoping that Rivara et al would address this sobering question. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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