Bush Administration Muzzled Surgeon General

Another ex military man speaking out against abuses of power by the Bu$h administration. Well, there's nothing new here except that he was also a doctor and was the U.S. Surgean General. He was appointed by Bu$h in 2oo2 and quietly left office at the expiration of his term in July, 2006.

Add one more to the list.

Posted on: July 11, 2007 9:27 AM, by Nick Anthis

Yesterday, former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona testified before congress that he was subjected to extensive and systematic political interference in his work by the Bush Administration. From Gardiner Harris of The New York Times:

Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to "water down" a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.

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