Casey Means’ affirmation listening to for surgeon common postponed : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6662x4441+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F51%2F4060425740a6b513dfae8e3fc276%2Fap25155773906362.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6662x4441+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F51%2F4060425740a6b513dfae8e3fc276%2Fap25155773906362.jpg" class="img" alt="Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, left, and journalist Megyn Kelly attend a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Secretary of Health and Human Services post, in Washington, D.C." fetchpriority="high"/> Dr. Casey Means, surgeon common nominee (left), with journalist Megyn Kelly (proper). Ben Curtis/AP cover caption

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Ben Curtis/AP Replace: The affirmation listening to for President Trump's surgeon common nominee scheduled for Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. was canceled. Dr. Casey Means, who's pregnant, went into labor.

The Division of Well being and Human Providers declined to reply a query about when the listening to could be rescheduled for however press secretary Emily Hilliard issued the next assertion: "Everyone seems to be joyful for Dr. Means and her household. This is among the few occasions in life when it is easy to ask to maneuver a Senate listening to."

Who: Dr. Casey Means

Nominated for: Surgeon Basic

You may know her from: Casey Means is a wellness influencer, entrepreneur, and writer. Final 12 months, she printed a bestselling ebook about food regimen and metabolic well being Good Power.

She coauthored the ebook together with her older brother, Calley Means, who works for the Trump administration as a particular authorities worker and is an in depth advisor to Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.She didn't full her surgical residency and doesn't have an energetic medical license, which might be a serious departure from previous surgeon generals.She runs an organization that promotes the usage of steady glucose displays.She has described America as in "non secular disaster," questioned the childhood vaccine schedule and the usage of contraception and has referred to as out what she calls "corruption" on the FDA. What does this function do? Generally known as the nation's high physician, the surgeon common leads the greater than 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Well being Service, which embrace physicians, nurses, and scientists working at varied federal companies.

The surgeon common serves within the Division of Well being and Human Providers and points public advisories and studies to convey well being info to the general public.

With the listening to delayed, what does it imply for the U.S. to not have anybody in place as surgeon common? The surgeon common is a communicator in chief for the nation's well being. The individual within the function raises consciousness of present well being points. For example, former surgeon common Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report on the well being results of loneliness. Secretary Kennedy himself has taken up numerous that type of communication work and makes use of his platform to advertise his views on well being.

What's anticipated on the listening to:

It has been greater than 5 months since Trump introduced Casey Means would substitute his preliminary alternative, Fox Information contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.

She was initially set to affix the senate listening to remotely, which is uncommon. The Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions committee, which is holding the listening to, didn't clarify why she could be becoming a member of just about. Her brother, Calley Means, shared in Could that she was pregnant.

Senators will possible have robust questions for her about her {qualifications} and potential conflicts of curiosity. In monetary filings launched forward of the listening to, Means dedicated to resigning from her steady glucose monitor firm if confirmed. She additionally disclosed monetary ties to the complement business from which she promised to divest.

Means is 38 years previous and a graduate of Stanford Medical College. She accomplished most of her residency coaching to be a head and neck surgeon, however give up earlier than ending.

Within the years since, she pivoted to what's often called practical drugs, a area that focuses on root causes of sickness and infrequently encompasses way of life change and various drugs approaches that aren't all the time evidence-based.

She briefly had a practical medical apply in Oregon. However she didn't turn into board licensed and her Oregon medical license is presently listed as inactive.

Means grew her public profile on social media and thru her ebook Good Power. She did the rounds on massive podcasts within the wellness area together with her brother and coauthor Calley Means. Her message tends to echo Kennedy's and that of his allies within the Make American Wholesome Once more motion, particularly in flagging the excessive charges of continual sicknesses within the U.S.

"What we're coping with right here is a lot greater than a bodily well being disaster — it is a non secular disaster," she mentioned at a congressional roundtable led by Republicans final 12 months.

She usually talks in regards to the U.S. meals provide and environmental toxins and he or she criticizes the pharmaceutical business. Kennedy has mentioned she would be the best surgeon common ever.

Pushback on a number of fronts:

There was vital opposition in opposition to Means's affirmation from medical and public well being consultants. They level to her lack of management or scientific expertise, one thing that surgeon generals historically have, and a few of her views. For instance, she has raised considerations in regards to the security of the childhood vaccine schedule and questioned hormonal contraception. She has additionally endorsed uncooked milk, as has Kennedy, who could be her boss.

"The Senate's possible affirmation of Casey Means as Surgeon Basic, a person who by no means accomplished medical coaching, would mark a disastrous precedent for the nation's high public well being function," Dr. Jerome Adams wrote in an announcement to NPR. Adams served as surgeon common within the first Trump administration.

"Quite a few certified candidates — totally educated, licensed physicians who champion prevention and wellness —may lead the 6,000-person [U.S. Public Health Service] with distinction," he added. "Confirming Means displays a capitulation to political pressures, not a need to get the perfect individual for the job."

Earlier this 12 months, opposition to her nomination additionally emerged from a few of Kennedy's MAHA supporters, partly out of concern that she would not be essential sufficient of vaccines or carry ahead different priorities of their motion.

Nonetheless, it appears unlikely that the Senate would have scheduled the listening to if the Trump White Home weren't assured that Means might be confirmed. The withdrawal of earlier well being official nominations from this administration have all occurred earlier than a listening to happened.

NPR follows the affirmation hearings for the Trump administration. See our full politics protection, and observe NPR's Trump's Phrases podcast or join our Politics e-newsletter to remain updated.