July 2, 2007
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Senate Russell Office Building 317
Washington, DC 20510-2101
Sent via fax: 202-224-2417
Dear Senator Kennedy:
I am writing on behalf of the board of directors of the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) to express strong reservations regarding President Bush’s nomination of James Holsinger, MD to be the Surgeon General of the United States. HIVMA represents more than 3,600 clinicians and researchers from across the U.S. devoted to HIV medicine. Dr. Holsinger’s perspective on homosexuality as a lifestyle choice places him well outside the medical mainstream, and raises questions about his ability to provide national leadership on behalf of all of our nation’s people and to address one of our country’s most critical public health problems—the AIDS epidemic.
As physicians and scientists who have devoted our professional careers to prevention, research and clinical care aimed at relieving the human suffering caused by HIV/AIDS, we are dismayed that the nominee to serve as the nation’s First Physician would be an individual noted for his intolerant and misguided views on homosexuality. These views are of particular concern because of the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on men who have sex with men, especially gay men of color, as we try to reduce the 40,000 new HIV infections in the nation each year. There is little doubt that stigma and discrimination, including homophobia, fuel the AIDS epidemic both in the U.S. and abroad. Effective public health leadership to address the AIDS epidemic requires an ability to provide candid, nonjudgmental and evidence-based information on sexuality as well as sexual activity that might facilitate HIV transmission, while also ensuring that persons living with HIV infection receive compassionate, state-of-the-art medical treatment.
We have no doubt that Dr. Holsinger is a fine physician and has performed ably as a public servant. His campaign to address childhood obesity in Kentucky is a laudable one. Nevertheless, we have a duty to our patients and to all of those Americans who may be at risk of contracting HIV and becoming our patients, to respectfully challenge the suitability of Dr. Holsinger for this highly visible leadership position. Dr. C. Everett Koop, MD, the Surgeon General of the United States during the early years of the epidemic demonstrated extraordinary leadership by talking candidly with Americans about HIV/AIDS, by addressing fears and debunking myths, and by encouraging support and compassion toward those living with HIV/AIDS. The next Surgeon General should have the will and the wisdom to do no less.
Please contact the HIVMA executive director Christine Lubinski to discuss this important issue further.
Sincerely,
Daniel R. Kuritzkes, MD
Chair, HIV Medicine Association
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