Surgeon general nominee Means questioned about vaccines, birth control and financial conflicts

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7090x4727+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2Fd4%2F3d9b425e4f55b085e6c81fadf07f%2Fgettyimages-2262965319.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7090x4727+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2Fd4%2F3d9b425e4f55b085e6c81fadf07f%2Fgettyimages-2262965319.jpg" class="img" alt="Dr. Casey Means, nominee for surgeon general, testifies during a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee." fetchpriority="high"/> Dr. Casey Means, nominee for surgeon common, testifies throughout a affirmation listening to Wednesday earlier than the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee. Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Pictures cover caption

toggle caption

Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Pictures President Trump's surgeon common nominee Dr. Casey Means testified earlier than Senate committee on Wednesday in her bid to be confirmed because the nation's high physician.

The listening to was a very long time coming for Means — a wellness influencer, entrepreneur and writer — who needed to delay the affirmation listening to in late October as a result of she was pregnant and went into labor.

Throughout her testimony, Means praised Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s management and echoed lots of the speaking factors of his "Make America Wholesome Once more" agenda, whereas sidestepping pointed questions in regards to the administration's controversial actions on vaccines and different points.

In a forwards and backwards between Means and Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee, she mentioned that she believes "vaccines save lives," however stopped in need of encouraging moms to have their youngsters vaccinated towards measles and flu. She mentioned that it's a matter for dialog and knowledgeable consent between docs and sufferers.

Later when pressed by Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, on whether or not she disagreed with Kennedy's statements that there is a lack of proof on the efficacy of the flu vaccine, Means ultimately agreed that on the "inhabitants degree" the shot does decrease the chance of damage or hospitalization.

She took an analogous tack when requested in regards to the debunked hyperlink between autism and vaccines, which has been promoted by Kennedy and lots of of his allies.

"I do settle for that proof. I additionally assume that science has by no means settled," Means mentioned in response to a line of questioning from Sen. Bernie Sanders, an unbiased from Vermont. Means mentioned that she supported Kennedy's present effort to take a look at "all environmental components that might be contributing to autism." She added, "Vaccines usually are not a part of my core message."

In podcast appearances and on-line, Means has expressed considerations in regards to the security of the childhood vaccine schedule and questioned hormonal contraception. She has additionally endorsed uncooked milk, as has Kennedy.

"I completely assume that oral contraception must be broadly accessible," she mentioned in response to a query about contraception tablets from Cassidy, a doctor, who requested partially if they need to be made accessible with out a prescription. "I consider particularly in terms of oral contraceptives we have to have sufferers having a dialog with their physician about dangers and advantages," she mentioned through the listening to.

Means has grown her public profile in the previous few years, primarily by means of a e-book on weight loss program and well being, known as Good Power, and appearances on high-profile podcasts. She's usually joined by her brother and coauthor Calley Means, who served as an adviser to Well being Secretary Kennedy.

Her nomination has confronted appreciable pushback from the medical and public well being institution, partially as a result of she lacks the medical expertise of previous surgeons common.

"She is much less certified professionally than another surgeon common in historical past. There is no query about that," says Dr. Georges Benjamin, CEO of the American Public Well being Affiliation.

Means graduated from Stanford Medical Faculty, however dropped out of surgical coaching to grow to be a head and neck surgeon. She went on to open a useful medication apply in Oregon, although she stopped seeing sufferers just a few years in the past and does not at present have an energetic medical license.

On the listening to, she mentioned she has no plans to reactivate her license, if confirmed.

Her focus has been on diet, the nation's excessive fee of continual illnesses and the failure of the medical system to deal with "root causes" of poor well being. Just like Kennedy, she factors to the harms of ultra-processed meals, environmental toxins, poor life-style and the overuse of prescription drugs, amongst different culprits.

"Each American shares a core craving to thrive and assist their households thrive, however we're asking individuals to make wholesome selections in environments which might be squarely structured towards them," she mentioned in her opening assertion to the committee.

"Our our bodies are telling us this present path is completely unsustainable. There may be one other manner, a path that unites rigorous science with reverence for our miraculous our bodies and planet," she added.

Alongside her e-book, Means runs an organization, known as Ranges, that promotes the usage of steady glucose screens and likewise sells varied dietary supplements and wellness merchandise on her web site.

Means has agreed to divest from her corporations if confirmed as surgeon common. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut grilled her on a pending criticism that she violated FTC guidelines by failing to reveal monetary relationships to merchandise she's promoted.

"This appears systemic," mentioned Murphy. "Evidently within the majority of situations through which you had been, as a medical skilled, recommending a product, you had been hiding the truth that you had a monetary partnership."

Means mentioned the assertions had been false and that she'd comply with up together with his employees.

Often 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 businesses.

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