Call to Action...especially for women.....

[Claire Beth]

My significant others daughter who is an OB-GYN sent this information to us. This should be a concern for EVERYONE, especially women! Sorry if someone has already posted this but it should be a major concern.

And so it begins........
>
>
> 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
> Christia! n 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 [e-mail] or call the
> White House at [phone] or [phone] 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
> all women's health."

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/hager.htm
>
>

[funkybutt]

1. HOW SAD IS THIS??

We're trying to appeal to the PRESIDENT to do the right thing here??

OMG We're fucked!

[Crowdance]

2. and so it BEGAN. He's been on the panel since 2002

This was the beachhead. Rove snuck him in with hardly a whimper, and knew then that we would do nothing to stop him. This is a mere whisper, a slight premonition, of what's to come. Hold on to your uteri, women.

[Mizmoon]

3. Most Catholic women I know use birth control

do other religions object to birth control too? I thought this was a madness restricted to our religion alone.

[Contrary1]

6. My understanding...

is that the fundies are against birth control pills, because
taking them may accidentally (for lack of a better adjective)
cause a spontaneous abortion for a woman who doesn't realize she is pregnant.

[blondeatlast]

4. Keep this kicked... The assaults have begun.

:kick:

BTW< the Snopes reference is an EXCELLENT idea as well.

[Mandate My Ass]

5. If Bush gets this *and* tort reform

A woman's right to choose is going down the toilet with a great deal of other rights, including obtaining contraception.

Sweet Jebus, that is a chilling thought.

[blondeatlast]

9. I rely on "The Pill" to prevent anemia and thus a heart attack.

My CARDIOLOGIST prescribes it.

[blondeatlast]

7. Done and e-mailed to my friends. We must be ever vigilant. nt

[Claire Beth]

8. you got THAT right!!!! n/t