Surgeon General's Warning: How Politics Crippled the Nation's Doctor

It's been a long slide to irrelevance for America's surgeon general, Associated Press medical journalist Stobbe argues in this history of "America's doctor." Stobbe contends that politicization of the job "stripped away most of the position's responsibilities" and made the surgeon general vulnerable to White House whims. Nevertheless, from its inception in 1871 the men and women appointed used their "bully pulpit" to tackle the most important health issues of the day. Stobbe hails those who made enduring contributions, like Luther Terry, whose report on smoking "proved a turning point" in the general population's attitudes towards its dangers; William Stewart, who helped lead the desegregation of hospitals and decried the lack of quality care for the poor; and C. Everett Koop, who defied expectations of his social conservatism and elevated the job to such heights that reporters began describing his job as that of the "nation's doctor." He also unveils those who condoned unconscionable treatment of public health issues, like Hugh Cumming who "blessed the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment" in the 1930s that secretly deprived black participants effective treatment. Stobbe's skillful, engaging report is especially relevant today as the public's health continues to challenge the nation's leaders. (June)