Is There a Doctor in the House?

Southeast Asia - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Scott Sturman

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden's vexing interview with Megyn Kelly demonstrates how an intelligent man can sound foolish when he becomes more politician than physician.  Historically, the prudent manner to deal with fatal communicable diseases where appropriate therapies are lacking has been quarantine.  As the medical community gains greater understanding of effective therapies, the extent of the quarantine is adjusted.  The handling of the issue has been so incoherent that even the main stream media and CNN have joined the chorus of more sensible people who prefer to combat the disease at its source rather than in the United States.

Ironically, it wasn't the AMA or other medical organizations which exposed the breach, but the Leftest press which embarrassed the Obama Administration to deign to address the fiasco by naming an Ebola Czar.  A wise choice would have been to appoint an independent epidemiologist, who by training is best suited to investigate diseases and coordinate treatment.

Ebola is no less a medical problem than a patient with a coronary artery occlusion or a ruptured colon. It would be ludicrous to suppose anyone other than a cardiologist or surgeon should treat these problems.  What about a situation when a powerful politician is suspected of malfeasance and a special prosecutor is warranted? Would the public be best served if anyone other than an attorney handled the investigation?  Yet if there is any question whether Mr. Obama sees Ebola as a medical or a political problem, the appointment of a lawyer and consummate political hack to spearhead the response answers the question.