Remove Dr. W. David Hager from the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee

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. W. David Hager, recently re-appointed to a position on the committee, 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. His views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. 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.

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. Dr. 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 anti-abortion 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.

The section of the Code of Federal Regulations dealing with the FDA states that "A nonvoting member does not represent any particular organization or group, but rather represents all interested persons within the class which the member is selected to represent." [Title 21, Subchapter A, Part 14, Section 14.86(c).] Dr. Hager does not represent all women, and should not be permitted his imposition of religious views on them. Further, Section 14.80 of the same chapter and part states that members of a policy advisory committee "Shall have diverse interests, education, training, and experience" - Dr. Hager's rigid and intolerant religous stance is hardly indicative of broad interest or sufficient training and experience. This section also allows for the removal of committee members for good cause.

Please sign this petition to show that you believe that Dr. Hager's lack of regard for women's health is a good cause for his removal from the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee.