DEFINING THE PROTOCOL
The MUFON Medical Committee defined a simplified set of instructions for field investigators to use when they are
involved in a UFO investigation involving effects on or injuries to the witness. These instructions are contained in
Chapter XVII of the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual, Fourth Edition, published February 1995, where they
serve as a guide to help investigators secure vital medical information promptly in cases where injuries of any kind
may have been caused by a UFO close encounter, including abductions. In every case, the medical help provided to the
victim, patient, or client should be foremost in priority in the investigator's mind.
Obtaining Medical Consultant Assistance
The medical evidence is an extremely important
part of the UFO investigation. For this reason it is necessary to assure this valuable information is not lost or
tainted. Immediately upon finding evidence of medical injury, no matter how insignificant it may seem, the field
investigator should contact the MUFON headquarters in Seguin, Texas for assistance by the nearest MUFON Medical
Consultant.
Handling of Medical Evidence
Proper handling of the witness (victim) is of utmost
importance. The field investigator must note the exact condition of the witness, documenting the first and
subsequent meetings with audio recording, photographs, and video recording if -possible. If there is any doubt about
the extent of the injuries, the witness should be advised to seek medical help immediately. Once the MUFON Medical
Consultant is involved, he/she can discuss the case with the on-site medical specialist.
Medical Injuries Defined
Medical injuries may or may not be readily noticeable. In
addition, the injuries may range from minor, which are difficult to detect, to extreme and easy to detect. When
defining what constitutes a medical injury, it is important to consider anything that affects the physiological or
psychological well-being of the witness.
A listing of the more obvious effects of interest to UFO Medical researchers includes: feeling of
heat, field effects (hair stands on end), disorientation, time loss, pain, headache, paralysis, marks on skin, burns
(first, second and third degree), lumps, bumps, growths, sores, loss of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, eye problems,
hair loss/gain, tooth damage/decay, psychological problems, and paranormal effects.
There are often hidden effects as well. The witness may not even consider that the hidden effects are
related to the incident. Therefore, without leading the witness, the investigator should determine whether or not
hidden evidence such as unusual feelings, strange dreams, development of possibly related problems such as cancer or
heart trouble develop in the days, weeks, or months following the incident. At times the hidden evidence is so
devastating that the witness focuses on the medical problem without ever thinking of the UFO incident again.
Medical effects may result from abduction events as well as close encounter events. The investigator
should be alert to medical evidence caused by the abductors, including but not limited to, medical examinations,
insertion of needles or other devices into the body, implants, and reactions to the technological devices used by
the abductors. In the case of abductions, MUFON headquarters will also alert MUFON Abduction Consultants.
Reporting the Evidence
Every step in the medical investigation should be thoroughly
documented. No information is considered inconsequential. The exact description of the injury or condition should be
recorded without interruption or interpretation. Often the witness is confused or frightened, making it difficult to
understand exactly what has happened. This condition is often worsened by their having to talk to a UFO
investigator. Nevertheless, it is important to capture the exact feelings and words of the witness.
The investigator may want to add a separate section of the report giving his/her feelings about the
extent of the medical problem. Unless the investigator has medical training, however, it is possible that these
observations may be biased or totally incorrect.
Visible injuries such as burns, rashes, cuts, bruises, needle marks, discolorations, hair loss, or
eye problems should be documented on videotape and film. Still photographs should be taken using a close up lens as
well as panoramic views.
If obvious injuries are present, the investigator should recommend prompt medical attention. If the
witness has already seen a physician, obtain the name, address and telephone number of the physician. Report that
information to the MUFON Medical Consultant. The investigator should not attempt to gain access to private medical
records until assisted by a medical expert. The MUFON Medical Consultant assigned to the case will provide
information on how to obtain the appropriate medical records and the proper use of release forms. A minimal set of
records would include admitting records, all treatments and tests with results, nursing notes, and specialists
records.
Categories of Injuries
Injuries as defined by the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual are
placed in one of four categories:
CATEGORY 1: Those injuries of a temporary nature, dealing with paralysis,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, tingling sensations, electrical shocks, feeling of heat, temporary blindness,
mild burns, perception of odors, and perception of sounds.
CATEGORY 2: Those dealing with the more chronic
effects usually associated with skin lesions, which may represent pathology through unknown mechanisms. Lesions may
appear as severe burns, scarring, open sores, etc. Effects of radiation exposure may result in the development of
cancers, anemia or the like.
CATEGORY 3: Those involving female abductees and the missing fetus syndrome and
those involving implants.
CATEGORY 4: Those involving psychological or paranormal evidence as noted by the
witness.
Evaluation of Injuries
The extent of the injuries will determine the extent of the
testing necessary in any given case. However, in cases of extreme medical injury, the MUFON Medical Consultant would
like to see the results of the following tests. Where it has been determined that the witness was exposed to some
type of radiation, it may be necessary to repeat a number of the tests at specific intervals.
- WEIGHT: The witness should be weighed at the beginning of the medical investigation and at
specific intervals until full recovery. Comparisons with documented weight evaluations prior to the UFO event should
be made also.
- VITAL SIGNS: Blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and
temperature. In many cases an Electrocardiogram would be helpful.
- BLOOD-FORMING
FUNCTION: Specimen: Whole blood. Tests: Complete blood count (CBC) with differential and platelet evaluation including
white cell count (WBC), red cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HBC), packed cell volume or hematocrit (HCT), and other
desired erythrocyte indices. Reticulocyte count may be appropriate if there is a likelihood of exposure to hemolytic
agents. The blood smear should be saved for possible future study. A sample of serum should be frozen for future study
and comparison. This can be especially important when trying to determine exposure to infectious agents that may be
ascertained sometimes only by measuring changes in antibody titers compared to an earlier specimen.
-
KIDNEY FUNCTION: Specimen: Blood serum. Tests: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric
acid.
- LIVER FUNCTION:
- General Function - Specimen: Blood serum. Tests: Albumin, bilirubin, globulin,
and total protein.
- Obstruction - Specimen: Blood enzyme. Test: Alkaline
phosphatase.
- Cell Injury - Specimen: Blood enzyme. Tests: Gamma glutamyl
transpeptidase (GGDP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum
glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT).
- MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND ORGANS: Specimen: Urine. Tests: Analysis including color, appearance,
specific gravity, pH, qualitative glucose, protein, bile, keytone bodies, and microscopic examination of centrifuged
sediment. Specimen: Stool. Test: Occult blood.
- SKIN LESIONS: Document erythema,
swelling, redness, and blister formation. Test: Skin biopsy. Search for and collect specimens of any possible
contaminants. Specimen: Skin scraping. Scrape into collecting bottle.
- HAIR LOSS:
Test for heavy metals: Lead, arsenic and mercury. Look for dissolution of intercellular bridges.
- FINGERNAIL SHEDDING: Document loss of fingernails (Onychomadesis).
- CHEST X-RAY: A standard chest x-ray should be taken.
- OB-GYN: Ob-Gyn history, including:
- Number of full-term deliveries
- Number of
pre-term deliveries
- Number of spontaneous or elective abortions
- Number of living children.
Also important: Date of last menstrual period, any method of birth control being used, and a
serum pregnancy test. Physical symptoms of pelvic bloating or cramping could be present if some type of
laparascopic procedure was performed.