The "Nation's Top Doctor" Speaks Out: Bush Administration Suppressed Critical Health Information

Yesterday, former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona spoke before a congressional committee and spilled the truth about the Bush administration's political influence on the surgeon general's office.  Dr. Carmona said that the Bush administration would not allow the surgeon general to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, and global health issues.  And according to the Washington Post, Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches — because clearly it's more important to mention the president's name than it is to mention programs that could prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS around the world.  

The surgeon general is considered "the nation's top doctor."  This means it is his or her mission to serve "as America's chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health."  The administration's actions directly contradict the mission of the surgeon general's office.  Stem cell research, access to emergency contraception, comprehensive sex education, and global health issues are critical to improving the health of Americans.  And there's sound science to back that up.  

As outrageous as this is, I can honestly say it comes as no surprise.  Time and time again, President Bush has put politics ahead of health (remember Eric Keroack, anyone?).  And he may be at it again.  Tomorrow, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hear testimony from Dr. James Holsinger, President Bush’s new pick for surgeon general.  Holsinger will have some tough questions to answer.  He has not clearly articulated his commitment to protecting women’s health and safety, and he has publicly displayed prejudice against lesbians and gay men.  Holsinger should be confirmed only if he can show he will stand up for science over ideology, ensure that all men and women have the information and tools they need to plan their families, and support teens’ access to the comprehensive sex education they need to make healthy decisions.  

It is the surgeon general's responsibility to promote a commonsense health care agenda, not to promote President Bush.  

•  Endangering Lives

  At some point Hadley, Addington etc. putting politics ahead of the health of people would seem to me a criminal act and that is what happened here..imho.

  by ohcanada on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 09:44:35 AM PDT

•  "First do no harm"...

  ...unless BushCo doesn't like your patient. Then screw 'em.

  Any doctor who works for BushCo and doesn't stand up to abuses like these loudly and conspicuously should probably have his/her medical license revoked.

  by wiscmass on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 09:44:38 AM PDT

•  How this guy could have believed

  that Bush, who has been outspokenly anti-choice, would want him to speak out honestly on sex ed, stem cells, etc is BEYOND my comprehension. He had to know for whom he'd be working. To protest that he didn't realize this when he took the job seems disingenuous--either that or he's too stupid to have made it through med school.

  by irishwitch on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:07:08 AM PDT

•  In response to those

  who tell me that politics has always played this way I point out things like this.  Sure every politician will support an issue that scores points - and maybe only when those points are obvious.  But Bush CO has turned every single Government action into a politics ONLY event.

  by newfie on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:12:15 AM PDT

•  this is a very important news story

  it got a lot of coverage on NBC's national news coverage yesterday, I'm surprised its not bigger here. This diary should be recommended, this is yet another example of a fringe ideology harming mainstream Americans.

  by The Hunter Gracchus GU Dems on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:14:31 AM PDT

•  NYT Surgeon General Sees..Term as Compromised

  Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches.

  and also contains this gem explaining the delay in releasing two major health reports -

  The global health report was never approved, Dr. Carmona said, because he refused to sprinkle the report with glowing references to the efforts of the Bush administration.

  Hope this link works...Article

  by BmoreMD on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 10:43:26 AM PDT

•  PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MALE HOMOSEXUALITY

  Here is an excerpt from the 8 page report written by Dr? Holingser -

  The anatomic
  and physiologic facts of alimentation and reproduction
  simply do not change based on any cultural setting. In
  fact, the logical complementarity of the human sexes has
  been so recognized in our culture that it has entered our
  vocabulary in the form of naming various pipe fittings
  either the male fitting or the female fitting depending upon
  which one interlocks within the other. When the
  complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and
  diseases may occur as noted above.
  Therefore, based on the simplest known anatomy and
  physiology, when dealing with the complementarity of the
  human sexes, one can simply say, Res ipsa loquitur - the
  thing speaks for itself!

  http://abcnews.go.com/...

  Please click the link and read this report.

  _______

  by cassidy3 on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 11:00:41 AM PDT

•  ordered to mention Bush 3x on each page?!

  So he was ordered to mention Bush three times on each page of his speeches.

  That is really crossing the line into Dear Leader territory.  

  Gross.  Icky.  Eww.  

  ---

  Flush Cheney down the drainy!

  by G2geek on Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 02:11:44 PM PDT