Koop Says Officials Must Set Aside Own Ideology

Government officials must often put aside their private beliefs when making public policy decisions, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop told 300 people at the Kennedy School of Government last night.

Citing his own experiences as surgeon general, Koop said ethical issues surrounding euthanasia and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) produced conflicts between his conservative personal beliefs and his vision of a workable public health policy.

"My personal feelings did not change one iota, but my public views required some thought," he said. "In public health matters, ideology may be helpful, but it is not enough."

"You have to go beyond ideology to find answers that work," he added.

Koop said his evangelical Christian beliefs remained intact despite what some called a surprisingly liberal report on AIDS he issued in 1986. In the document, Koop discussed the practice of anal intercourse and recommended that those who practice it use condoms.

'Education, Education'

"Our greatest weapon against AIDS is education," education and more education," Koop said last night.

Some religious organizations and conservative groups have attacked Koop's AIDS report, charging that it contradicts his moral code.

Koop said he found the experience of reexamining his views in light of the realities of his job had been a personally rewarding one. "You can make a difference in public service and that difference may be in yourself as well as your nation. And I think both are worth it," he said.

Dressed in a civilian suit and bowtie instead of his trademark military attire, the surgeon general also cited the 1982 case of Baby Doe, an infant with severe birth defects. Hoping to end the baby's suffering, her parents asked the doctors not to feed her to let her die.

Although he said he personally would have tried to save Baby Doe, Koop said he adopted a middle-of-the-road position on the general question of euthanasia, saying decisions should be made on a case by case basis.

"So long as I supported the Baby Does of this world, I had to represent the parents also," Koop said. The infant died before the issue could be resolved.

Appointed by former President Ronald W. Reagan in 1981, Koop is in his eighth and final year as Surgeon General. In addition to promoting AIDS education, Koop has become well-known for an antismoking crusade.

Koop said he is unsure about his future plans but added, "One thing is sure--you'll be hearing the same kinds of messages from me."