PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT
Whether you're Right or Left on the issue of women's reproductive
rights, please consider the following...
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 has 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 of setback 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.
Hagar'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 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
or call the White House at (202) 456-1111 or (202) 456-1414 and say
"I oppose the appointment of Dr. Hager to the FDA Reproductive Health
Drugs Advisory Committee.
Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable. Using the FDA to
promote a political agenda is inappropriate and seriously
threatens women's health."
Please take the time to take some action on this. It is very
important.. |
