The assertion recently made by Nicole Nordlund to the Conway School Board that studies have shown masks carry serious illness and transmit it to students and a letter by Michael Knudson published July 13 about a study showing the wearing of masks by children causes dangerous levels of inhaled carbon dioxide demonstrate the importance of critical review of medical articles. As a retired surgeon (who wore surgical masks all day), I found this a little surprising. Nordlund did not give any citations for the studies she asserted. Knudson did. In this column, I will not take a position on whether masks should be required but will illustrate the importance of using sound information to make such decisions.