It has been rumored that Casey Means, a wellness influencer and a practitioner of functional medicine that has been considered by the Biden administration for the position of the U.S. Surgeon General. Although Means herself is a promoter of alternative health methods, the lack of the former and the discussion over it, her experience in traditional public health, as well as her unconventional views on issues of high importance, pose serious concerns about her ability to take on this critical position.
Why Casey Means is the Wrong Choice
- Public Health Expertise Shortage – The historical context of the Surgeon General’s office, full of qualified specialists, stands in stark contrast to the lack of depth, or even the absence, of Dr. Means. She comes from a background where health was thought of as comprising a person’s inner wellness only, without such progress that the layman would at least have a good idea about who the right people are to cast their votes for. She presents a shift from public, government involvement to individual, personal decisions.
- Health Claims that have No Scientific Basis – Means’s form of practice, functional medicine, has been linked to approaches that deviate from evidence-based health practices. The Surgeon General should lead the country by sticking to robust science, the one that does not have concomitant alternative therapies of uncertain efficacy.
- Potential Conflicts of Interest – Perhaps, since a co-founder of a health tech startup is Means, she may end up leaning toward the interests of the private sector rather than helping the government come up with unbiased public health advice.
The Surgeon General Must Be a Trusted, Science-Based Leader
The Surgeon General has to be the number one figure who should correct any misconceptions and be the one who dictates all national health-related issues. Only a leader who has successfully led the country out of crises like COVID-19 and the opioid epidemic would be the most suitable one compared to a wellness influencer who has gradually been out of touch with the mainstream.
It is Time to Act Now!
The Senate can under no circumstances confirm Casey Means’ appointment. They should put forward another candidate instead with new public health credentials. Sign the petition and tell your senators: We need a Surgeon General who puts science above belief!
