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guster girl
11-10-2004, 11:10 AM
I just got this email and wanted to know if anyone wanted me to send it to them. Also, any comments or remarks would be greatly appreciated. If this starts a debate, that's fine. That's why it's in the dog house, because it's controversial. But, please, if you are going to debate, don't resort to name calling or nastiness. I read this and personally it makes me a little nervous. I don't know if my nervousness is founded, though, and, that's why I'm posting this. I'm signing my name to it, and forwarding it to the people on my address list. But, I'll keep the email in case anyone in here wants to sign. Just let me know. Here's the body of the email:

President Bush has announced his intention to appoint Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. This 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 is the author of "As Jesus Care d 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 health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology and modern gynecological practice. 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 asser! tion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient (causes abortion). 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. Dr. 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 anti-abortion 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 message and paste it into a fresh email; then sign your name below and SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.




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.

Maresche
11-10-2004, 11:12 AM
Actually that is an old email. He was appointed to the Commission but does not lead it. It happened about 2 years ago.

guster girl
11-10-2004, 11:19 AM
Oh, really? See, I wonder why it's being circulated......I JUST got it! I thought it was because they were having to reappoint everyone. Oh, well, I guess I can still wait to hear people's opinions. I'll write my friend and ask her why she sent it to me. She's a smart lady, there had to be a reason! :)

aly
11-10-2004, 01:54 PM
Yeah that was brought to my attention during the election, but I researched it and found out it was 2 years old. He is still on the committee, but he's not the head of it.

Even though it is old, I still think it is important to know. If you do a search for David Hager, you'll find MANY MANY websites for women's rights that talk about it in detail.

The following link might be of interest as well:

http://www.knowthecandidates.org/ktc/BushGang/BushTragicAppoints1.htm

My Peanuts
11-10-2004, 02:39 PM
Old or not it's news to me. I don't mind telling you that I am pro-choice for many reasons, but even if I wasn't I'd be appalled. Religion and medicine of any kind should not mix, especially women's health. If my doctor told me to deal with pms and cramps by reading the bible I'd probably blow up at him and never go back. How can Dr. Hager not prescribe birth control to unmarried women and then not support abortion? This is the same thinking that mothers in the 1950’s used and thought it would stop their daughters from having sex. You’d have to be pretty irrational to think that would happen. Apparently he wants the entire country to be single mothers. If that happened already Kerry most likely would have won the election. I was a Kerry supporter and reading this makes me sad and afraid that Bush got reelected. It's this off the wall crazy politics that I think Bush will bring to this country, especially now that he doesn't have to worry about being reelected. I am not totally anti-Bush and I support this country fully, but the more I learn the harder it is to support the decisions this man is making. I fear for the young unmarried women, like myself, in this country.

By the way, everything I said is my personal opinions and are not going to change. Also my opinions are not there to sway anyone's opinions. Please don't take it that I am preaching. Gustergirl wanted reactions and opinions and that's what this is. I really don't want to debate because I'm not trying to change anyone and I'd hope they respect that I don't want my opinions changed.

DJFyrewolf36
11-10-2004, 03:29 PM
I would have to say I agree with you My Peanuts. When I was 13, my doctor found out I had a hormonal problem that could easily be corrected by putting me on birth control pills. This problem caused abnormal period cycles and made my periods last for a month at a time. I was miserable because the cramps were really bad. Had some doctor told me to go pray about it, I would probibly have gotten rather angry. I was 13, I wasn't looking to have sex or anything. But, by this guys definition Im some sort of evil nasty person because I was taking birth control. :rolleyes:

Not everyone fits a tidy stereotype.

lizzielou742
11-10-2004, 03:37 PM
I got that email this week too!

guster girl
11-10-2004, 04:20 PM
My mother (at fifteen) was put on birth control (and this was around 1964) because her period was absolutely out of control. The pills helped regulate her. I know it did the same for me when I first got put on the pill. I'd hate to have a period like I did before then. Yikes!