A Carroll

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  A commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Dr. Sanjay Gupta? Really?

  Sanjay Gupta is a TERRIBLE choice for Surgeon General, and it's quite surprising that Obama even considers him as a viable candidate.  Gupta is challenged professionally, ethically, and experience-wise.  Another blogger (rightly too) suggested that he might be "another Brownie".  Please do some research about your topics, such as the SG's responsibilities http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/duties/index.html
  and what the Public Health Service does http://www.usphs.gov/  before you write.  This isn't stuff that is arrived at through deep introspection--it's facts!
  Gupta is challenged professionally because he knows nothing about evidence-based science or epidemiology--that's clear from his TV show and his go-round with Michael Moore.  He is ethically challenged because the sponsors of his TV show are drug companies; can you see him support Obama's (promised) reform of negotiating with the drug companies for better prices for beneficiaries of public programs, like the VA does now for veterans?  Also, he takes fees for speaking engagements, a practice that is considered unethical among journalists.  He has no experience as a manager--can you see him being the "boss" of 6,000 doctors who must go into the trenches every time there's a disease outbreak or a natural disaster to analyze the situation, do public health surveillance, and design interventions to solve the problem?  (BTW, this isn't a military position. The PHS is in the Dept. of Health and Human Services. Where did you get this idea about the "Pentagon"???)
  With regard to healthcare policy:  he has shown absolutely no understanding of and no interest in addressing our broken healthcare system, and no understanding of the negative effects of it on the lives of US citizens daily.  He ignores evidence that true healthcare reform will SAVE the US billions of dollars collectively, and citizens hundreds of thousands of dollars individually, and businesses millions of dollars.  Instead, he intentionally scares his viewers with disinformation by claiming that healthcare reform will cost billions and is not achievable.  What part of Gupta's background doesn't Obama understand?