Dr. C. Everett Koop dead at 96

[Baltimatt]

Former Surgeon General of the United States

Koop, who turned his once-obscure post into a bully pulpit for seven years during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and who surprised both ends of the political spectrum by setting aside his conservative personal views on issues such as homosexuality and abortion to keep his focus sharply medical, died Monday at his home in Hanover, N.H. He was 96.

...

Koop personally opposed homosexuality and believed sex should be saved for marriage. But he insisted that Americans, especially young people, must not die because they were deprived of explicit information about how HIV was transmitted. Koop further angered conservatives by refusing to issue a report requested by the Reagan White House, saying he could not find enough scientific evidence to determine whether abortion has harmful psychological effects on women.

He said there was pressure on Ronald Reagan "every day" to fire him, but Reagan wouldn't do it.

RIP

[The Eternal White Belt]

When I was a kid, I thought that Colonel Sanders was the surgeon general.

[Norman]

From my email last night....

Dear Friends & Colleagues:

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr. C. Everett Koop. He died peacefully at home earlier today. Please join us in giving thanks for "Chick" Koop's extraordinary dedication and service to all of us, and keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Dr. Koop will be remembered for his great contributions to the health and well-being of mankind. He pioneered the field of pediatric surgery. As one of our great Surgeons General, he effectively promoted health and the prevention of disease, thereby affecting the health of the nation. He founded the C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth to transform healthcare and the process of educating health professionals. Dr. Koop leaves a legacy that will endure and help move our nation forward to achieve significant advances in the health of our citizens and all people across the globe.

Plans for his memorial services are pending. Further information will follow as it becomes available.

Sincerely,


And as my boss said... he was a true public health hero – taking on HIV AIDS and smoking when the administration wanted nothing to do with them, and making an enormous contribution through his leadership.

[Jeebus]

Dr. Koop will be remembered for his great contributions to the health and well-being of mankind

He'll also be remembered for being the first SG in a long time to wear that admiral's uniform, complete with "medals."

[LarryN]

Why is the position called Surgeon "General" if they are actually Admirals?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon..._United_States

[Cameron]

According to your link:

The Surgeon General is a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and by law holds the rank of vice admiral.

Officer members of these services wear uniforms that are similar to those worn by the U.S. Navy, except that the commissioning devices, buttons, and insignia are unique.

[Jeebus]

Why is the position called Surgeon "General" if they are actually Admirals?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon..._United_States

According to your link:

I'm not saying he wasn't entitled to wear it, but that he revived the practice of wearing it every day, something no other SG had done since the 1890's.

[sigmalady]

RIP, Dr. Koop.