11.09.2004

If you don't have anything to worry about yet, here's something

I got this info in an email. If you want the full email, so that you can sign, write to me at Mgmystic@yahoo.com.
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
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. 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 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.

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