Present radiation protection standards are based to a large extent on data that have been forced to conform with the linear non-threshold model. A review of the literature shows that there are examples of both data and theory that disagree with such a model. Established standard setting bodies seem not to have recognized this disagreement; indeed, as will be shown, there are many studies that they have neither cited, discussed, nor refuted. Additionally, examples of data adaptation and circular reasoning are to be found in the standard-setting process. Consequently, a new approach to the process is desirable. Numerous citations and quotations are given.