F.D.A. Scientists Accuse Agency Officials of Misconduct

[groovedaddy]

WASHINGTON — Top federal health officials engaged in “serious misconduct” by ignoring concerns of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration and approving for sale unsafe or ineffective medical devices, the scientists have written in a letter to Congress.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will investigate the accusations, first aired when eight agency scientists wrote a private letter in May to the F.D.A. commissioner, Andrew C. von Eschenbach.

“These allegations are deeply concerning,” said the committee chairman, Representative John D. Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, “and we intend to uncover whether any F.D.A. activity has compromised the health and safety of American consumers.”

Heidi Rebello, an agency spokeswoman, said, “The F.D.A. will respond directly to the committee’s concerns.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/health/policy/18fda.html?th&emc=th

[MountainLaurel]

1. No big surprise there

FDA scientists have been complaining about interference by political employees with the work of the agency for the past few years, and this sounds like it's just another facet of it.