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Monday, December 17, 2007

Government Vacancies Can Lead to Sketchy Science

Susan Wood, a professor at George Washington University's school of public health and former FDA whistleblower, wrote an op-ed in today's Boston Globe examining how President Bush has undermined the federal government's role in assuring public health by staffing agencies with inappropriate people — or simply not staffing them at all.

Wood accuses Bush of refusing to "staff important health-related positions with qualified individuals willing to provide science-based advice." She provides a list of important government posts currently filled by interim appointees. (The "acting" status of important government positions is a government-wide problem.)

As Wood points out, filling top government posts with unqualified leaders — or refusing to fill them at all — leads to scientifically questionable decision making. Ultimately, that can undermine the important public health protections our government has a responsibility to provide. Wood concludes by stating:

To ensure the health of our families we need strong, consistent leaders who value the integrity of science, make decisions on the best available information, and support prevention. Without that leadership, we will not succeed in promoting the health of all Americans.