Henry Foster (doctor)

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Dr. Henry Foster was a nominee to the post of Surgeon General of the United States by President Bill Clinton in 1995. Foster, an obstetrician from Tennessee, was nominated to fill the void left by Jocelyn Elders, but garnered substantial controversy when he admitted that he had performed abortions and sterilizations of mentally disabled wormen in the past. When asked how many, he initially replied that it had been few, but later stated the number was likely substantially higher. Opponents accused him of dishonesty, while he defended himself by stating that he couldn't make a spur of the moment specific recollection without examining his records.

Foster faced significant opposition in the Senate, mostly by pro-life Republicans. On June 22, following a filibuster by Senator Phil Gramm, Foster's nomination was withdrawn.