Posted on 09/13/2011 11:03:51 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Gov. Rick Perry's 2007 attempt to require that girls in Texas be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, has become a political hot potato. But Dr. Ronald DePinho, the new president of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, says the vaccine is not just sound but "one of the great scientific advances in the history of medicine."
In last night's GOP presidential debate, Perry faced repeated criticism from other candidates for his HPV push. Michele Bachmann said it was “flat out wrong” to require that “innocent little 12-year-old girls be forced to have a government injection through an executive order.”
Part of Bachmann's critique was that Perry's executive order, which he now says he would handle differently, was the byproduct of cronyism. Perry's former chief of staff, Mike Toomey was a lobbyist for the drug company Merck, maker of the vaccine, at the time. In interviews following the debate, Bachmann reportedly went even further, suggesting that the vaccine was a ""a very dangerous drug" and could cause "mental retardation."
But today, in an interview with the Tribune, DePinho said that as a physician, as the president of a leading cancer research institution and as a father of two young girls, "there's only one path here, which is to support vaccination."
"To do anything else would be unethical," DePinho said.
His recommendation for anyone who opposes the vaccine: "Visit one patient with cervical cancer in an advanced state."
Tell you what.
Give us the FDA label
that Gardasil injection PREVENTS cancer
and we will stop.
If you cannot, then you and Perry
withdraw by 5 PM Pacific time.
Did you buy them condoms also?
The sun causes cancer -- should the govt. mandate we turn it off?
Don't bother answering.
ROFL!!!! Oh smack! As a two time survivor of skin cancer/chemo because I lived the majority of my life half naked in the sun...I’m laughing, but grimly. ROFL!
I realize "Gardasil" is your FR signature issue Diogenesis but the president of M.D. Anderson and the medical community say this is a huge break through -- that the prevention of cancer has been the goal-- and that's what VACCINES do -- prevent. No more ultimatums. I don't know you but I do know M.D. Anderson and the quality cancer center that it is. Listen to the video.
Bachmann is pathetic in claiming “she would not speculate”. If so, why did she try to connect Merck campaign contribution to Perry’s EO decision?
2008 article:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_20/b4084032485505.htm
Harvard’s DePinho is working with Merck on cancer drugs
Same guy
Obvious conflict of interest I found it in under 30 seconds.
I hope all this stuff goes away soon. Tempest in a little teapot.
Was I obnoxious when I was posting all those nice Sarah Palin threads? Not criticizing your observation of me. just curious.
Do you despise companies that develop, manufacture and sell drugs?
Give me some clue?
Or is this just grabbing at anything to elevate [fill in the blank] for 2012?
Probably.
“M.D. Anderson is apparently VOID OF ETHICS.”
Maybe Jeff Head can weight in on your opinion, Diogenesis.
I despise inside dealing and corruption, in whatever form they may come.
And here I was under the impression that “miss marmelstein” was in favor of free speech.
“Opt out” no mandate.
Yes. And.....
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