Daniel Dolan aloha

Former U.S. Surgeon General Muzzled

A former U.S. Surgeon General was told by the first-term Bush administration to remain silent on many critical health issues, including dangers of second-hand smoke, AIDS, stem cell research, global warming, prison health and contraception.

The NY Times reports that former Surgeon General Richard Carmona gave testimony under oath at a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, complaining that he routinely was censored or pressured by the administration not to issue reports contrary to the administration's positions on many important health-related topics. He also testified that he "was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches."

On the topic of second-hand tobacco smoke, the NY Times story reported that "top officials delayed for years and tried to 'water down' a landmark report on secondhand smoke drafted by Carmona. "Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm."

The story also reported that Carmona "described attending a meeting of top officials in which the subject of global warming was discussed. The officials concluded that global warming was a liberal cause and dismissed it."

So what is the official role of the Surgeon General? According to

The National Library of Medicine reports that the Surgeon General has changed since reforms in 1968: "Left with few bureaucratic tasks, the Surgeons General since the 1960s have undertaken a more proactive role in informing the American public on health matters. They have relied on their professional credentials (all Surgeons General have been MDs) and political independence to make themselves into the most visible and, in the public's mind, impartial and therefore trusted government spokespersons on health issues affecting the nation as a whole."

This role clearly was corrupted by the Bush administration.

We should wonder if current Surgeon General Moritsugu is free to do his job without such interference.

Secondhand Smoke Burned

It's official: secondhand smoke is a killer and huge health risk.

Yesterday the U.S. Surgeon General released a definitive report on the dangers of passive smoking, affirming through huge amounts of data what most of us already knew. Of course, the tobacco industry was quick to offer weak "buts" about butts. Hopefully this report will provide new momentum for a push to do what has to be done: significantly weaken or break the tobacco machine.

Here are several of the key findings of the report:

1. Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.

2. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma.

3. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.

4. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

5. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

6. Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.

7. Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Here is the Executive Summary of the report:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/

Ever wonder what exactly is lurking inside those cigarettes and that smoke?

The report reveals that more than 50 carcinogens have been identified in sidestream and secondhand smoke. See a larger image of the poster to the right at image.