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Today’s entry: I can never remember a state’s Surgeon General receiving as much attention as the press is giving to Dr. Ladapo. What is the actual job responsibility of the state’s Surgeon General? Do you think the backlash about Ladapo is more about news outlets trying to get DeSantis than it is about his policy ideas?
Bottom Line: There’s no doubt that any recent state Surgeon General candidate has received the kind of media attention that Dr. Joseph Ladapo has. Of course, almost all of the attention has been negatively portrayed. That’s of course because Dr. Ladapo is an outspoken critic of mask and vaccine mandates and perhaps because of Governor DeSantis.
First, let’s address what the lawful role of the state’s Surgeon General is. Under the law, Florida’s Surgeon General is the Florida Department of Health’s chief administrator. That means the person holding the post is responsible for all of the day-to-day operations of the FDOH. This is similar to the role of other department heads in the state, like Florida’s Education Commissioner as it pertains to the Florida Department of Education. This is to say that the state’s Surgeon General is far from a figurehead and is very much a critical cog for helping establish and carry out health policy for the state of Florida. Specific directives for the state’s surgeon general include being the state’s leading advocate for wellness and disease prevention in Florida, conducting planning and budgeting activities, and entering contracts and other agreements as authorized by law, among others.
Clearly, it’s a highly consequential post, especially in the context of the pandemic. That’s also why the position requires Senate confirmation which is precisely where we are in the process. The recent dust-up over Dr. Ladapo refusing to wear a mask while visiting with Senator Tina Polsky was part of the interview process in advance of a Senate confirmation vote. Clearly Polsky, and others, believe that Ladapo’s refusal to wear a mask is a disqualifying decision for the person who’d be running the state’s health department. You’re welcome to view it as you see fit. What hasn’t been discussed well, or even credibly, is Dr. Ladapo’s background.
In context, it’s easy to see why Dr. Ladopo has had plenty of critics, as his preferred public policy approach runs counter to the Fauci-led establishment guidance.
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