LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, withdrew his name from consideration as surgeon general of the United States on Thursday. He spoke to CNN's Larry King about the decision and President Obama's health care plans. Here is an edited transcript:



Dr. Sanjay Gupta says he just returned from India, where he looked into medical tourism.



Larry King: But, first, breaking news about CNN's own Dr. Sanjay Gupta, long rumored to be the main candidate for U.S. surgeon general. He's taken himself out of the running. Joins us now here in Los Angeles to talk about it. Why?



Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Well, first of all, it was a really tough decision, and a long decision and a long process for sure. And I was incredibly flattered, humbled by the consideration even for the position.



I think for me it really came down to a sense of timing more than anything else. You know, I have two daughters. Our third daughter is now imminent. In fact, I have my phone on right here, I might get called off the set.



King: As we talk.



Gupta: As we talk, my wife is imminent with our third child. You know, this job that we have collectively takes us away from our children for so many years at once, and I sort of came to grips with the fact that I'd probably be away at least the first several years, four or five years -- there's my existing two daughters, one more on the way -- but several years of their lives. And I just didn't feel like I should do that now.



And the other thing, let me just add, you know, you know me and a lot of people know me, obviously, as a journalist for CNN, but you know, I continue to practice neurosurgery, Larry. You and I have talked about that, and I...



King: You do brain surgery all the time.



Gupta: Yes. And it's an important part of my life. And I work at a county hospital. That's the hospital I've chosen to work at in Atlanta [Georgia]. And I really enjoy that.



I came to grips with, ironically, that being surgeon general, I probably would not be able to continue to practice surgery.



King: How about the cut in pay?



Gupta: Well, you know, that's a sacrifice we were willing to make.



I think, you know, either you're a public servant or you're not a public servant. I've always been drawn to public service. So that really wasn't a consideration for me.



King: Was it an offer or a "would you consider if"?



Gupta: It's a little bit of a funny thing -- and I've never been through this process before. I guess the formal part of it is when you are nominated. I was not nominated, but I had conversations with the senior-most people that would make an offer, and they told me they wanted me to do this job. So...



King: Was it the thought of [Democratic former] Sen. Tom Daschle, who was going to be secretary of health, that you be his surgeon general?



Gupta: Well, I did have conversations with him, but you know, the fact that he withdrew did not play as big a role in my mind in terms of not considering the job. Again, I think either you do public service or you don't. You want your job to be as precisely defined as possible, for sure, but that wasn't a major factor.



King: The way it was presented, then, you feel that you would have been offered it even if Daschle had not left or had left, no matter what?



Gupta: I think so. You know, I mean, you know, I've had a lot of conversations with the White House folks. I think there was a big interest
What would the job have taken him from? What was the disadvantage of the job? What did it come down to? What would have taken him away too long from family? Who faces challenges in reforming health care?
children takes us away from our children for so many years at once, sense of timing U.S. surgeon general. President Obama's
question: What would the job have taken him from?, answer: children | question: What was the disadvantage of the job?, answer: takes us away from our children for so many years at once, | question: What did it come down to?, answer: sense of timing | question: What would have taken him away too long from family?, answer: U.S. surgeon general. | question: Who faces challenges in reforming health care?, answer: President Obama's