rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/opposesurgeongeneralnominee?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-opposesurgeongeneralnominee' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> People's CDC https://actionnetwork.org/groups/peoples-cdc https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg President Donald Trump nominated Casey Means to be the next US Surgeon General, a position in which she is unqualified. If appointed, she would be the chief medical doctor and health educator for the United States. In this role, Means’ job would be to provide the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve health and lower the risk of illness and injury. What makes Means unqualified for this position? Several key reasons have been covered extensively in the media. For starters, while Means completed medical school, she did not complete medical residency and has no active medical license. She continues to use her medical training to lend false credibility to her statements and recommendations, many of which are not based on evidence. Not only that, but Means has questioned the childhood vaccine schedule despite it being backed by evidence-based science and supported by groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also has a financial conflict of interest through her company selling so-called “natural” products with the intent to oppose traditional medicine for personal financial gain. Moreover, while she planned to resign from that company if confirmed, her conspiratorial and unscientific beliefs around autism, raw milk, and birth control will remain. Those views if exercised as mainstream or through policy could cause grave harm to the public, as her platform and reach would expand exponentially. Further, she lacks governmental experience and would be ill-equipped to handle such a prominent position and unsuccessfully navigate governmental systems. Each of these problems, taken alone, disqualifies Means for this position. Combined, they paint a powerful picture not only of an unqualified candidate but of one who would be deeply harmful to the future of health in America. In a time when public health is already under attack, and RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, we must stand with evidence-based science to oppose Casey Means’ potential confirmation as Surgeon General. We are grateful for your willingness to oppose Casey Means as the next US Surgeon General. Our movement needs to ensure that the person who serves as the nation's chief medical officer provides the public with scientific information to improve health and reduce illness, is not swayed by external forces, and stands up for evidence-based science. As the American people, we need a Surgeon General who will fight for our health, not their own financial pocket. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/opposesurgeongeneralnominee