CNN: Gupta raised surgeon general post

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Posted in: Business news in betterbusiness's Blog

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has approached the CNN chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, as the next surgeon general, the cable network said Tuesday. CNN said Gupta has maintained in reporting on health care policy and other matters related to the next administration and that learning Obama was considered for the post.

Two Democrats with knowledge of discussions on the surgeon general, Gupta said ground was under consideration, but cautioned that there was not yet a final decision on who fill the post. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the matter.

Obama's transition office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gupta hosts "house calls" on CNN, CBS News reports contributes to, and writes a column for Time magazine. He is a neurosurgeon and is on the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. During the Clinton administration, was a White House fellow and special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The surgeon general is not usually very active in the formation of an administration policy, but it can be a very effective bully pulpit. Past surgeons general have proved to be an instrument in the fight against AIDS and snuff.

Having such well-known television could provide the surgeon general attention not seen since C. Everett Koop help position under President Ronald Reagan. Koop is best known for doing to promote AIDS a public health problem rather than a moral issue, Reagan and the pressure they face to fire him. Koop said Reagan has never interfered.

CNN said Gupta did not comment on the discussions and issued a statement saying: "Since learning that Dr. Gupta was considered for the position of surgeon general, said on CNN that his reporting has been on the air in the area health and welfare and not on health care policy or any questions related to the new administration. "

CBS News is a unit of CBS Corp., CNN is owned by Time Warner Inc.

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