Arlen Specter: “the final subject I wish to address briefly involves the problem of mammograms for women age 40 to 49. Mr. President…”

“the final subject I wish to address briefly involves the problem of mammograms for women age 40 to 49. Mr. President, this subject came into sharp focus when a National Institutes of Health panel on January 23 issued a report that mammograms were not warranted for women in the 40 to 49 category. That was immediately met with very widespread criticism, including criticism from Dr. Richard Klausner, the Director of the National Cancer Institute, who said that he was shocked by that conclusion. As the facts later developed, a press release was inadvertently disclosed. Some of the members of the panel had held that mammograms were not warranted. But, as I understand it, that had not been thoroughly analyzed and agreed upon by the panel. But once this press release came out they stood by the release. And there has been enormous confusion in America on this issue of women 40 to 49. The subcommittee, which I chair and which has jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human Services, had a hearing on February 5 at which Dr. Klausner restated his shock about the matter. He thought that the advantages of mammograms for women 40 to 49 had not been appropriately emphasized, and the disadvantages had been emphasized too heavily. He also said that he was going to await a meeting of the National Cancer Institute later in February--on February 24 and 25. It was my understanding that the matter would be resolved at that time. But, in fact, it was not.”