FDA scientists: We're being targeted

[Robbien]

We can imagine the movie script already: Honest scientists try to keep unsafe medical devices off the market, but big bad Big Brother quashes their efforts and brands them as criminals. The New York Times reports today that the nine FDA scientists who wrote President Obama's transition team to complain of a "culture of corruption" at the agency now say officials may have placed them under criminal investigation.

"Us rather than the managers who have engaged in wrongdoing!" the scientists said in a letter to the president. "It is an outrage that our own agency would step up the retaliation to such a level because we have reported their wrongdoing to the United States Congress."

Backing up a bit: These scientists complained in May of improper device approvals to then-FDA chief Andrew von Eschenbach. He launched an internal review, which is ongoing. Five months later, the scientists feared the FDA was dragging its feet, so they wrote to Congress asking for an investigation. In November, the Committee on Energy and Commerce launched one. Then came their letter to President-elect Obama's team. (Incidentally, a Government Accountability Office report released two weeks ago confirmed some of the scientists' concerns.)

The Times obtained emails and internal documents about the dispute; apparently, at least one of the bones of contention is the fact that it can be illegal for FDAers to reveal information considered confidential by companies that have submitted products for review. But the scientists have upped the ante, too: Their letter to President Obama offered a list of laws they feel the agency has been violating. Stay tuned.

http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/fda-scientists-were-being-targeted/2009-01-29-0

Appears that just removing the old GOPer head of the FDA does not change much if most of the entire department is full of corrupt loyal Bushies who are the managers who have sufficient power to target the whistleblowers for the crimes the Bushies have done.

[Vincardog]

1. O should ask for the voluntary resignation of everyone appointed in the last 8 years. He should fire

anyone who will not resign. He can have his people review and decide on the ones who do resign. No more AGs with diplomas from Jebesas U.

[Avalux]

2. Obama needs to take action with the FDA now. Mass firing.

I know he has a lot of other things on his plate but this is important. A lot of good people will be unfairly targeted. Will they be protected under the new whistleblower law?

[cpamomfromtexas]

3. There's all kinds of retaliation going on in companies where employees have whistleblown

That's why the new bill should protect all whistleblowing employees.

[Robbien]

4. If the new bill is not stripped out of the stimulus package

It still has to pass the Senate and then go through negotiations in conference.

I can see it being taken out as a compromise to get GOPers to vote for the stimulus.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Robbien.