Susan F. Wood, a biologist and veteran of 15 years in professional positions on Capitol Hill and in two administrations, took the unusual step of publicly announcing her resignation in an e-mail to friends and colleagues that was distributed to the media by a policy group that favors reproductive choice.
“I can no longer serve . . . when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled,” wrote Wood, 46, who has been at the agency nearly five years and held the title of assistant commissioner.
It’s almost forty-four years since the arrest of birth control providers — which led to the Supreme Court decision legalizing contraception in this land. The amalgamation of religious fanatics and political opportunists is dedicated to turning back the clock.
Plan B, made by Barr Laboratories, won FDA approval as a prescription drug in 1999. Its path to over-the-counter designation has been convoluted.Last year, the FDA overruled an advisory panel recommendation and decided to keep Plan B as a prescription drug. But the agency invited Barr to re-apply after submitting additional data, and the company asked that the drug be made freely available to women 16 and older while younger girls would need a prescription. The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has determined that the product can be safely sold without a prescription to women 17 and older.
Most Americans are still ignorant of the whole agenda of the fundamentalist Phalange. The plan to take our society back to the Dark Ages ranges from “creationism” to outlawing contraceptive products. They would have superstition overrule science at every turn.
I.F. OK. Supper is started and I can sit still for more than a 45-second response.
Let me give you just a single example of how science affected politicians and political struggle in the nation. The case of Brown v. Board of Education was the foundation for the proof of individual harm done by segregation. The work of many different kinds of social scientists produced the core of what had to be considered by the several level of jurists involved.
For specifics, look to the Library of Congress 50th Anniversary statements: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-brown.html
The resulting decision was taken to heart by many Democrats, leadership and rank-and-file. It caused the eventual split of “Dixiecrats” from that party over the issue of racism — and into the welcoming arms of Nixon and the Republican Party where they have lived happily ever after.
Social and political movements through every layer of society participated in that struggle in that era; but, the foundation that was used to spread the word — wasn’t just that Americans are good-hearted people and will realize the errors of the past.
Further back, the same struggles against inequity — and the same reliance on science served to bring suffrage to women voters. I don’t doubt the reasoned expansion of genetic understanding will serve the Gay and Lesbian community of our land, as well.
That one took a little longer. Maybe four minutes. I still haven’t noticed anywhere in either the article or my statements where your premise arose that I might think Democrats and Republicans are going to volunteer to adopt science as a political standard. My essential hope is that [1] they’ll get out of the way, more often; and [2] hopefully, won’t legislate us all the way back to the Dark Ages from sheer opportunism.
Rick,
So your talking about DNA being the most important least common denominator of human life? So, now we have to write up laws to protect human DNA from destruction? Does this mean you want everyone to protect blood and tissue samples as though it were a living human being because they have 100% human DNA?
I love how these anti-abortionists love to bastardize and convolute science to fit into their narrow agendas.
That’s also enough time wasted on a non sequitur.