¶1 Paul Nagy petitions this court for a writ of mandamus seeking rehef from orders entered in two district court proceedings. Additionally, Nagy asks this court to compel authorities at FCI-Butner to order certain medical tests or to transfer him to a facility in Massachusetts. We deny the petition.
¶2*678 Mandamus relief is available only when the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought, the respondent has a clear duty to perform the act requested, and the petitioner has no other adequate remedy. In re First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir.1988). Mandamus is a drastic remedy and should be used only in extraordinary circumstances. Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 402, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (1976). Mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal. In re United Steelworkers, 595 F.2d 958, 960 (4th Cir.1979).
¶3 Here, Nagy has not met the high standards for issuing a writ of mandamus. We accordingly deny the petition. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
¶4 PETITION DENIED