Satcher Ready to Leave Surgeon General Post

Surgeon General David Satcher, who riled the Bush White House over the issue of teaching sexual abstinence in schools, says he’ll step down Feb. 13 when his four-year term ends.

Satcher, who was appointed by President Clinton, drew criticism from the White House last summer after his office released a report that said there was no evidence showing the success of sexual education programs that promote abstinence while barring discussion of birth control. The report called for schools to encourage abstinence but also to teach the value of birth control.