Over the last century, scientific progress has vastly improved our ability to address emerging public health and environmental challenges and concerns. As a society we have come to depend upon the government to utilize scientific findings to develop sound public policy that advances the well-being of our citizens. Of concern to RHTP, and many organizations within and outside of the women's health community, is a growing trend by the government to manipulate science to advance political and corporate interests over the health and safety of Americans. Examples include:

• Although emergency contraception has now been approved for over the counter use for adults 18 years or older, the Food and Drug Administration previously overruled the recommendation of two of their independent advisory committees and agency medical reviewers, denying over the counter access to emergency contraception (EC). EC is a safe, effective back-up method that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.
  

• Ignoring the recommendations of two federal agencies and the available scientific literature documenting the health threats of mercury exposure, the government has promoted weaker air standards, effectively increasing the amount of mercury and other pollutants in the air and water. It is estimated that one in twelve women in the US have potentially hazardous levels of mercury in their blood, which could impair the neurological development of their unborn children.
  
  
• Despite the lack of peer reviewed research demonstrating the effectiveness of abstinence-only sexual education programs, federal funding of these programs continues to rise, placing the health and safety of adolescents at risk by not providing them with accurate information about protecting themselves against sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.
  
  
• In 2002, under the direction of government officials, the Centers for Disease Control replaced website information on proper condom use, the efficacy of different types of condoms and research demonstrating that condom education does not promote sexual activity with a document emphasizing condom failure rates and the effectiveness of abstinence. Calling into question the validity of condoms to protect against STDs and pregnancy jeopardizes the public health and safety of Americans.

These examples point to the government's consistent disregard for objectivity in the federal policy making process. In an effort to raise the profile of these attacks on science, RHTP has partnered with women's health, public health, and environmental organizations to form The Integrity of Science Working Group (ISWG). ISWG has launched a multi-pronged media and legislative effort to ensure objective use of science in federal policy making. For more information on ISWG, please click here. Of specific concern to RHTP has been the misuse of science in regards to reproductive health issues. RHTP has created a series of fact sheets documenting instances in which ideology has trumped science and women's health.

More information on Integrity of Science:

Union of Concerned Scientists Release Survey of FDA Scientists; Survey Documents Political Pressures Effect Public Health Decisions
[PDF, 342KB]
Read RHTP President's Statement on Survey Findings
For more information, visit http://www.ucsusa.org/

"Abortion drugs must become WHO essential medicines," The Lancet, May 28, 2005. [PDF, 52KB]