FW: FDA Committee appointment

[Guest guest]

>FDA Committee appointment>Sat, 23 Oct 2004 10:05:55 EDT>>Do not go lightly into that good night...think clearly and remember the>following. K>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, 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. His views of productive 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.>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.>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.>There is something you can do. Below is a letter to be sent to the>White House, opposing the placement of Hager. Please copy all the text of>This email and paste it into a fresh email; then sign your name instead of>mine.>>SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S>RIGHTS.>Send your email to:> presidentDear President Bush:>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.>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.

[Guest guest]

I'm not saying I agree with everything this man would do, but I just want to make the point that who ever is appointed, they WILL be using their religious views/values to decide what to allow and not allow. That is the nature of the beast - anything regarding reproduction/life has a belief/value behind it. So...be careful who you choose.

 

Nancy

Nancy Parlette Natural Health Counselor Nutrition Educator (410) 531-2410 pnparlette

[Guest guest]

Nancy,

I think you said it all we must be very careful.

Lynda