President Bush's
most recent surgeon general accused the Administration
Tuesday of muzzling him for political reasons on hot-button
health issues such as emergency contraception and
abstinence-only sex education.
Richard Carmona,
the nation's 17th surgeon general, told members of
Congress that all surgeons general have had to deal
with politics but none more so than he.
For example, he
said he wasn't allowed to make a speech at the Special
Olympics because it was viewed as benefiting a political
opponent. However, he said was asked to speak at
events designed to benefit Republican lawmakers.
''The reality is
that the nation's doctor has been marginalized and
relegated to a position with no independent budget and with
supervisors who are political appointees with partisan
agendas,'' said Carmona, who served from 2002 to 2006.
Responding, the
White House said Carmona was given the authority and had
the obligation to be the leading voice for the health of all
Americans.
''It's
disappointing to us if he failed to use his position to the
fullest extent in advocating for policies he thought were in
the best interests of the nation,'' said deputy press
secretary Tony Fratto. ''We believe Dr. Carmona
received the support necessary to carry out his
mission.''
Confirmation
hearings are scheduled to be held Thursday for James
Holsinger Jr., the Kentucky cardiologist Bush nominated as
the nation's 18th surgeon general. The nomination has
been criticized by gay rights groups.
Carmona testified
Tuesday at a hearing of the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform. Also appearing were C.
Everett Koop, who served as surgeon general from 1981
to 1889, and David Satcher, who served from 1998 to
2001.
''Political
interference with the work of the surgeon general appears to
have reached a new level in this administration,'' said
committee chairman Henry Waxman, a California
Democrat.
Koop is probably
the most recognized former surgeon general. He talked
about AIDS as a public health issue rather than a moral
issue, which won him many admirers and some critics.
He said President Reagan was pressed to fire him every
day, but Reagan would not interfere.
Koop said that
after he left office he had more access to the secretary
of Health and Human Services than his successor, Satcher,
and that embarrassed him. ''Dr. Carmona was treated
with even less respect than Dr. Satcher,'' Koop said.
A report
condemning secondhand smoke was a hallmark of Carmona's
tenure.
Another report,
on global health challenges, was never released after the
Administration demanded changes that he refused to make,
Carmona said.
''I was told this
would be a political document or you're not going to
release it.'' Carmona said. ''I said it can't be a political
document because the surgeon general never releases
political documents. I release scientific documents
that will help our elected officials and the citizens
understand the complex world we live in and what their
responsibilities are.''
He refused to
identify the officials who sought the changes.
Carmona said he
believed the surgeon general should show leadership on
health issues. But his speeches were edited by political
appointees, and he was told not to talk about certain
issues. For example, he supported comprehensive sex
education that would include abstinence in the
curriculum, rather than focusing solely on abstinence.
''However, there
was already a policy in place that didn't want to hear
the science but wanted to quote-unquote preach abstinence,
which I felt was scientifically incorrect,'' Carmona
said. (Kevin Freking, AP)