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Surgeon General/Health Care Organizations The Term Paper

The Surgeon General is widely considered to be the doctor for the nation and an ombudsman for the public's health. But in reality, modern holders of the office are tightly constrained by the increasingly politicized environment of Washington. It is difficult to imagine a modern Congress creating the office of Surgeon General. Politics wouldn't allow it to happen. Fortunately, and to our nation's great benefit, the position and the tradition already exist. But the job needs help (Mullan 2007).

According to Mullan, legislation is needed to do three things: provide an independent budget for the currently mendicant position; mandate an annual Surgeon General's Report on the state of the nation's health; and, essential to all else, insulate the Surgeon General from political interference. Political shielding for key government officials (such as departmental inspectors general) has precedent, and similar measures should be adapted for the Surgeon General. It is Congress that needs to rescue the office of Surgeon General and give it, once and for all, the support and protection...

Lee. "Health Policy Making: The Role of the Federal
Government." In Danis, Clancy and Churchill (eds.) Ethical Dimensions of Health Policy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Mullan, Fitzhugh. "Plight of the Surgeon General." Science 318 (2007): 169.

Profiles in Science. "The Reports of the Surgeon General." National Library of Medicine.

30 December 2010. 27 February 2011

http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/NN/Views/Exhibit/narrative/system.html

Surgeon General Press Release. "HHS Secretary and Surgeon General Join First Lady to Announce Plans to Combat Overweight and Obesity and Support Healthy

Choices." Office of the Surgeon General. 28 January 2010. 27 February 2011

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/01/20100128c.html

Tanne, Janince Hopkins. "Former U.S. Surgeon General reveals extent of political pressure." British Medical Journal 335 (2007): 114.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Bouffard, Jo Ivey and Philip R. Lee. "Health Policy Making: The Role of the Federal

Government." In Danis, Clancy and Churchill (eds.) Ethical Dimensions of Health Policy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Mullan, Fitzhugh. "Plight of the Surgeon General." Science 318 (2007): 169.

Profiles in Science. "The Reports of the Surgeon General." National Library of Medicine.
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/NN/Views/Exhibit/narrative/system.html
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/01/20100128c.html
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