GWB Appoints Fundie to Head Reproductive Health Committee

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-01-16 04:07pm

Reposted from rpg.net:

>>President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to
>>head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health
>>Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two
>>years, during which time its charter lapsed. As a result, the Bush
>>Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new
>>members. This position does not require Congressional approval.
>>
>>The FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee makes crucial
>>decisions on matters relating to drugs used in the practice of
>>obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties, including hormone
>>therapy, contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical
>>alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and pregnancy
>>termination.
>>
>>Dr. Hager's views of reproductive health care are far outside the
>>mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing
>>OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe
>>contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager is the author of "As Jesus
>>Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends
>>biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from
>>Hager's practice.
>>
>>In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the
>>Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual
>>syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an
>>editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A
>>Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the
>>Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate
>>assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient.
>>
>>Hager's mission is religiously motivated. He has an ardent interest in
>>revoking approval for mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) as a safe
>>and early form of medical abortion. Hagar recently assisted the
>>Christian Medical Association in a "citizen's petition" which calls upon
>>the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone in the name of women's
>>health.
>>
>>Hager's desire to overturn mifepristone's approval on religious grounds
>>rather than scientific merit would halt the development of mifepristone
>>as a treatment for numerous medical conditions disproportionately
>>affecting women, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine
>>fibroid tumors, psychotic depression, bipolar depression and Cushing's
>>syndrome.
>>
>>Women rely on the FDA to ensure their access to safe and effective drugs
>>for reproductive health care including products that prevent pregnancy.
>>For some women, such as those with certain types of diabetes and those
>>undergoing treatment for cancer, pregnancy can be a life-threatening
>>condition. We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs
>>may color his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect
>>women's lives or to preserve and promote women's health.
>>
>>Hager's track record of using religious beliefs to guide his medical
>>decision-making makes him a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to
>>serve as chair of this committee. Critical drug public policy and
>>research must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of
>>this important panel should be appointed on the basis of science and
>>medicine, rather than politics and religion. American women deserve no
>>less.
>>
>>WHAT CAN YOU DO?
>>
>>1. SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S
>>RIGHTS.
>>
>>2. OPPOSE THE PLACEMENT OF THIS MAN BY CONTACTING THE WHITE HOUSE AND
>>TELL THEM HE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ON ANY LEVEL.
>>
>>Please email President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov
>>and say "I oppose the appointment of
>>Dr. W. David Hager to the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory
>>Committee. Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable in a
>>policy-making position. Using the FDA to promote a political agenda is
>>inappropriate and seriously threatens women's health."

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-16 04:14pm

Doesn't require Congressional approval? Why the fuck not?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-01-16 05:19pm

Any link to this one a legtimate news site? Not just a repost of an unknown article.

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-01-16 05:22pm

Joe wrote:Doesn't require Congressional approval? Why the fuck not?

Not really. Any President can legally appoint cabinet members, Federal judges, or any other high level government job to a 1 year term. At the end of 1 year they are either confirmed by the senate or forced to automatically resign.

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-01-16 05:23pm

Might I add, this can only happen while the Senate is in recess.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-16 05:25pm

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/ ... 5916.shtml

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-01-16 05:33pm

Joe wrote:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/ ... 5916.shtml

Hmmm, interesting. From what I see it's mostly the abortion issue and that of hormone replacement therapy (about which there has been some controvesry anyway) that's the problem. I don't see anything mentioned that Iceberg is so hysterical about. Nor is he the head of the proposed panel.