David Hager
Encyclopedia
W. David Hager is an American physician
with a medical board certification in obstetrics
and gynecology. In the fall of 2002, Hager, a leading conservative Christian
voice on women's health and sexuality, was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs in the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) by U.S. President George W. Bush
.
. Together they had three sons. David and Linda Hager's marriage ended by divorce
in 2002 amidst allegations of spousal rape. In November 2002 Linda, herself a religious and political conservative
, was re-married to James Davis, a United Methodist minister.
In 2003 Hager married Lexington physician Kathleen Martin; in 2007 Dr. Martin filed for divorce from Hager, likewise citing sexual misconduct.
at University of Kentucky
in 1972, and completed an ob/gyn
residency at University of Kentucky in 1976. Hager has been board certified in obstetrics
and gynecology since 1978.
. After completing his OB/GYN residency, Hager was a clinical research investigator for sexually transmitted diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
in Atlanta from 1976-78. He had a faculty position at Emory University
from 1976–1978, and has been a part-time "professor
" at the University of Kentucky since 1978. ("Though his resume describes Hager as a University of Kentucky professor, a university official says Hager's appointment is part time and voluntary and involves working with interns at Lexington's Central Baptist Hospital, not the university itself." Time citation below) His research interests include mastitis
, post-operative infections, Group B Strep infections, and vaginitis
. Hager was president of Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1996-1998. He was also named as one of the "Best Doctors in America" in both 1994 and 1996. Other present and past affiliations include, the Focus on the Family
's Physician Resource Council and the Christian Medical and Dental Society
's Physician Resource Council. Hager was previously a member of Asbury College's board of trustees.
Additionally, President George W. Bush
appointed Hager to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008.
over the counter.
First, The Nation, and then The Washington Post
and Lexington Herald-Leader
reported that Hager spoke at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky
, about his role in persuading the FDA to keep Plan B a prescription-only drug. Hager said, "I was asked to write a minority opinion that was sent to the commissioner of the FDA. For only the second time in five decades, the FDA did not abide by its advisory committee opinion, and the measure was rejected."
Additionally, in The Nation, Linda Carruth-Davis, Hager’s ex-wife from a thirty-two-year marriage, alleges that between 1995 and their divorce in 2002, Hager repeatedly sodomized her while she slept. The article's author Ayelish McGarvey
puts forward the premise that Linda Davis's allegations are of additional concern due to Hager's public role as an advocate for women's health.
To The Nation, Hager responded "My official comment is that I decline to comment", but in his local newspaper
, the Lexington Herald-Leader, Hager stated "As I said before, the allegations as stated do not reveal all of the information and therefore they're incomplete and not true. No one likes to be criticized, no one likes to be torn apart privately or publicly and I think that it's disappointing that my former wife has chosen this avenue to vent her anger and bitterness."
Further concerns with his candidacy arose with his beliefs and medical assertions penned in the book "Stress and The Woman's Body", co-written with his ex-wife Linda Carruth-Davis. In the book, his writings emphasized the "restorative power of Jesus Christ in one's life" and recommended specific Scripture readings and prayers for such ailments as headaches and premenstrual syndrome.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
with a medical board certification in obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynecology. In the fall of 2002, Hager, a leading conservative Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
voice on women's health and sexuality, was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs in the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) by U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Family life
In 1970, Hager married Linda Carruth Davis, the daughter of a Methodist evangelistEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
. Together they had three sons. David and Linda Hager's marriage ended by divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
in 2002 amidst allegations of spousal rape. In November 2002 Linda, herself a religious and political conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, was re-married to James Davis, a United Methodist minister.
In 2003 Hager married Lexington physician Kathleen Martin; in 2007 Dr. Martin filed for divorce from Hager, likewise citing sexual misconduct.
Education and certification
Hager in 1964 was graduated from Jessamine County High School in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Hager received his undergraduate degree from Asbury College where his father, Cornelius Hager, was the college president. Hager graduated from medical schoolMedical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
at University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1972, and completed an ob/gyn
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology are the two surgical–medical specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs in their pregnant and non-pregnant state, respectively, and as such are often combined to form a single medical specialty and postgraduate training programme...
residency at University of Kentucky in 1976. Hager has been board certified in obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynecology since 1978.
Career
Hager is a practicing gynecologist in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. After completing his OB/GYN residency, Hager was a clinical research investigator for sexually transmitted diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
in Atlanta from 1976-78. He had a faculty position at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
from 1976–1978, and has been a part-time "professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
" at the University of Kentucky since 1978. ("Though his resume describes Hager as a University of Kentucky professor, a university official says Hager's appointment is part time and voluntary and involves working with interns at Lexington's Central Baptist Hospital, not the university itself." Time citation below) His research interests include mastitis
Mastitis
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
, post-operative infections, Group B Strep infections, and vaginitis
Vaginitis
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina. It can result in discharge, itching and pain, and is often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva. It is usually due to infection. The three main kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis , vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. A...
. Hager was president of Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1996-1998. He was also named as one of the "Best Doctors in America" in both 1994 and 1996. Other present and past affiliations include, the Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
's Physician Resource Council and the Christian Medical and Dental Society
Christian Medical and Dental Society
The Christian Medical and Dental Society Canada is an evangelical, inter-denominational and active organization of Christian physicians in Canada.Its official publication is Focus magazine.-External links:* * *...
's Physician Resource Council. Hager was previously a member of Asbury College's board of trustees.
Additionally, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed Hager to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008.
Controversy over FDA advisory committee appointment
Hager's appointment to the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs in the FDA was controversial with women's right groups protesting his selection from the start. Hager's appointment became more divisive when on May 6, 2004, the FDA rejected the December 16, 2003 Advisory Committee 23 to 4 vote to drop the prescription-only status of emergency contraception, and refused to approve the sale of Plan BLevonorgestrel
Levonorgestrel is a second generation synthetic progestogen used as an active ingredient in some hormonal contraceptives.-Chemistry:...
over the counter.
First, The Nation, and then The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and Lexington Herald-Leader
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Lexington Herald-Leader is a newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and based in the U.S. city of Lexington, Kentucky. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the Herald-Leaders paid circulation is the second largest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
reported that Hager spoke at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky
Wilmore, Kentucky
Wilmore is a city in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 6,134 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, about his role in persuading the FDA to keep Plan B a prescription-only drug. Hager said, "I was asked to write a minority opinion that was sent to the commissioner of the FDA. For only the second time in five decades, the FDA did not abide by its advisory committee opinion, and the measure was rejected."
Additionally, in The Nation, Linda Carruth-Davis, Hager’s ex-wife from a thirty-two-year marriage, alleges that between 1995 and their divorce in 2002, Hager repeatedly sodomized her while she slept. The article's author Ayelish McGarvey
Ayelish McGarvey
Ayelish McGarvey is a journalist covering the religious right. Her articles have appeared in The Nation, The American Prospect, Washington Monthly, and other liberal publications. In a cover story for The Nation, she broke the story about Bush appointee David Hager's personal life...
puts forward the premise that Linda Davis's allegations are of additional concern due to Hager's public role as an advocate for women's health.
To The Nation, Hager responded "My official comment is that I decline to comment", but in his local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, the Lexington Herald-Leader, Hager stated "As I said before, the allegations as stated do not reveal all of the information and therefore they're incomplete and not true. No one likes to be criticized, no one likes to be torn apart privately or publicly and I think that it's disappointing that my former wife has chosen this avenue to vent her anger and bitterness."
Further concerns with his candidacy arose with his beliefs and medical assertions penned in the book "Stress and The Woman's Body", co-written with his ex-wife Linda Carruth-Davis. In the book, his writings emphasized the "restorative power of Jesus Christ in one's life" and recommended specific Scripture readings and prayers for such ailments as headaches and premenstrual syndrome.
Journal articles
- Hager WD. Treatment of metronidazole-resistant TrichomonasTrichomonasTrichomonas is a genus of anaerobic protists that are parasites of vertebrates. They are included with the parabasalids.Species of Trichomonas include:*Trichomonas vaginalis, an organism generally living inside the vagina of humans...
vaginalis with tinidazole: case reports of three patients. Sex Transm Dis. 2004 Jun;31(6):343-5 - Stanford JB, Hager WD, Crockett SA.The FDA, politics, and plan B. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 3;350(23):2413-4; author reply 2413-4.
- Larsen JW, Hager WD, Livengood CH, Hoyme U. Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of postoperative infections. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2003;11(1):65-70.
- Fitch JT, Stine C, Hager WD, Mann J, Adam MB, McIlhaney J. CondomCondomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
effectiveness: factors that influence risk reduction. Sex Transm Dis. 2002 Dec;29(12):811-7. - David Hager, W., Schuchat, Anne, Gibbs, Ronald, Sweet, Richard, Mead, Philip, Larsen, John W. PREVENTION OF PERINATAL GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION: CURRENT CONTROVERSIES Obstet Gynecol 2000 96: 141-145
- McGregor JA, Hager WD, Gibbs RS, Schmidt L, Schulkin J. Assessment of office-based care of sexually transmitted diseaseSexually transmitted diseaseSexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s and vaginitisVaginitisVaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina. It can result in discharge, itching and pain, and is often associated with an irritation or infection of the vulva. It is usually due to infection. The three main kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis , vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. A...
and antibiotic decision-making by obstetrician-gynecologists. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1998;6(6):247-51. - Hager WD, Barton JR. The treatment of sporadic acute puerperal mastitisMastitisMastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
. IDOG 1996;4:97-101. - McGregor J, Hager WD, Eschenbach DS, Mead P, Sweet RL, Gibbs RS. Modes of practice in OB-GYNObstetrics and gynaecologyObstetrics and gynaecology are the two surgical–medical specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs in their pregnant and non-pregnant state, respectively, and as such are often combined to form a single medical specialty and postgraduate training programme...
infections. Obstet Gynecol 83:631-36, 1994. - Barton JR, Thorpe EM, Shaver DC, Hager WD, et al. Nonimmune hydrops fetalisHydrops fetalisHydrops fetalis is a condition in the fetus characterized by an accumulation of fluid, or edema, in at least two fetal compartments. By comparison, hydrops allantois or hydrops amnion are an accumulation of excessive fluid in the allantoic or amniotic space respectively.-Presentation:Locations can...
associated with maternal infection with syphilisSyphilisSyphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. Am J Obstet Gynecol 167:56, 1992. - Hager WD, Rapp RP, Billeter M, Bradley BB. The choice of an antibioticAntibioticAn antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
for women undergoing non-elective cesarean section. J Anti Agents and Chemo 35:1782,1991. - Hager WD, Bird M, Callahan JC, Frank AL, David ML, Engelberg J. Promiscuity and public health: some clinical and ethical issues. Hosp Pract. 1990 Sep 15;25(9):63, 66, 69-70+
- Hager WD, Sweet RL, Charles D, Larsen B. Comparative study of mezlocillinMezlocillinMezlocillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic. It is active against both Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. Unlike most other extended spectrum penicillins, it is excreted by the liver, therefore it is useful for biliary tract infections, such as ascending colangitis.-Mechanism...
versus cefotaximeCefotaximeCefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. Like other third-generation cephalosporins, it has broad spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria...
single dose prophylaxis in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomyHysterectomyA hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...
. Current Therapeutic Research, 45:63-9, 1989.
Books
- Hager WD, Hager LC. STRESS AND THE WOMAN'S BODY. Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Book HouseBaker Book HouseBaker Publishing Group is an evangelical Protestant Christian book publisher based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has six subdivisions: Bethany House, Revell, Baker Books, Baker Academic, Chosen and Brazos Press.-Identity:...
, Grand Rapids, MI , 1996. - Mead P, Hager WD. INFECTION PROTOCOLS FOR OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY. Medical Economics Company, Montvale, New JerseyMontvale, New JerseyMontvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,844.Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then...
, 1992, Revised 1998. - Hager WD, Joy, D Women at Risk: The Real Truth about Sexually Transmitted DiseaseSexually transmitted diseaseSexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
.
Sources
- Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) GYNECOLOGIST EXPECTS TO BE OFF PANEL May 13, 2005 Frank Lockwood
- Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) A PHYSICIAN AND A LIGHTNING ROD JUNE 12, 2005 Sarah Vos
External links
- Time Online - Jesus and the FDA
- Memo May Have Swayed Plan B Ruling Washington Post FDA Received 'Minority Report' From Conservative Doctor on Panel May 12, 2005 Marc Kaufman