Tc
Mon, Nov-20-06, 06:15
http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/313/27/
Congress to Probe NIH Conflict of Interest Policies Friday,
11 August 2006 Congressional leaders have lost patience with
the cat and mouse game being played by officials of the
National Institutes of Health. NIH officials have yet to do
something about NIH scientists' conflicts of interest.
Following the latest revelations in a Los Angeles Times a
series of investigational reports about documented conflicts
of interst at the NIH, The House Energy and Commerce
Committee asked NIH to provide it with its conflict of
interest policies by week's end.
At the center of this latest case, Dr. Thomas Walsh of the
National Cancer Institute is reported to have received
undisclosed payments from drug companies for services rendered
on their behalf at FDA hearings. See:
http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/292/55/
U.S. conflict-of-interest law generally prohibits a federal
employee from representing an outside party before a
government agency.
But NIH officials think they can disregard laws. NIH had
failed to dsclose these payments to Congress. According to the
LA Times, "Two of the companies, Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co.,
have acknowledged paying Walsh fees in recent years."
The Committee "is seeking to determine if there is a
sufficient factual basis to formally investigate questions
about National Institutes of Health policy, the adequacy of
NIH oversight or other issues that may be raised by the
conduct of this NIH scientist."
How is it that The New York Times with its far greater
resources has seen fit even to mention the lawless conduct by
NIH senior scientists?
*****
TC
Congress to Probe NIH Conflict of Interest Policies Friday,
11 August 2006 Congressional leaders have lost patience with
the cat and mouse game being played by officials of the
National Institutes of Health. NIH officials have yet to do
something about NIH scientists' conflicts of interest.
Following the latest revelations in a Los Angeles Times a
series of investigational reports about documented conflicts
of interst at the NIH, The House Energy and Commerce
Committee asked NIH to provide it with its conflict of
interest policies by week's end.
At the center of this latest case, Dr. Thomas Walsh of the
National Cancer Institute is reported to have received
undisclosed payments from drug companies for services rendered
on their behalf at FDA hearings. See:
http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/292/55/
U.S. conflict-of-interest law generally prohibits a federal
employee from representing an outside party before a
government agency.
But NIH officials think they can disregard laws. NIH had
failed to dsclose these payments to Congress. According to the
LA Times, "Two of the companies, Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co.,
have acknowledged paying Walsh fees in recent years."
The Committee "is seeking to determine if there is a
sufficient factual basis to formally investigate questions
about National Institutes of Health policy, the adequacy of
NIH oversight or other issues that may be raised by the
conduct of this NIH scientist."
How is it that The New York Times with its far greater
resources has seen fit even to mention the lawless conduct by
NIH senior scientists?
*****
TC