Veterinarian appointed director of the FDA Office of Women's Health

Symbolic of the importance the Bush Administration places on women's health, a male veterinarian has been appointed by FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford as acting director of the Office of Women's Health. Norris E. Alderson, PhD, has spent the majority of his career at the FDA holding various positions in the Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The Office for Women’s Health, which ensures that the FDA remains gender sensitive and monitors the progress of women’s health initiatives, was most recently headed by Dr. Susan Wood. Wood resigned late last month in protest over the FDA’s refusal to grant over-the-counter status to emergency contraception.

This is seriously fucked up. This makes about as much sense as appointing, say, a horse show official to oversee a large emergency management agency.