Politics – The FDA is now ignoring Congressional subpoenas of its records, setting up another showdown between Congress and the Bush Administration. Unlike former showdowns, national security is not involved. Will the Bush administration offer protection for a situation that involves needless deaths to Americans? The Chinese sentenced to death the head of the
FTA-Dr. David Ross served as the FDA´s primary safety reviewer on Ketek. He was concerned about liver damage as early as 2000 and was stunned by the fact that the U.S. clinical trial contained blatant fraud. Back in 2003 he wanted to give this information to the FDA advisory panel that was deciding if Ketek was safe to use for the public. FDA management prevented him from doing so and purposefully withheld information from the advisory panel about the ongoing criminal investigation.
There is a major showdown with the CheneyBush admin. coming over this, and what grounds can be claimed to protect their crony in this matter? National Security? OOps lost the e mails? I think not.
Radiofreesuropa ~
"major showdown"? I don't know. We've got so many issues
that are major departures from ethical behaviour - the rule
of law - the functioning of a balanced government.
The way I see it - they've already checked off Executive and
Judiciary and it's almost as if the last remaining branch -
Congress..............just hasn't received the memo yet.
I don't believe there is the will - or the time, before the
end of this term to accomplish what really needs to be done
to vindicate the American public. After the election? I
think any who pursue these injustices will be called
vindictive and told to drop it. I'm mad as H*ll - but
IMO - they'll ALL go scott free.
Dr. Ross should have gone to the media immediately after being prevented from giving the advisory panel his information. Despite MSM's relationship to the pharmaceutical industry, media outlets will do anything to make a splash that will get them publicity and a big audience. And they hate being scooped by other media sources.
A respected source who's in a position to know about the subject notifying everyone on a comprehensive list of MSM outlets would have garnered some attention. PR firms have such lists, and it's not hard to generate one's own by doing a little reserach.
When government regulatory agencies fail to do their jobs, and when evidence is easily understood and comes from a reliable source, it's the media's job to step up and increase pressure on the government.
Beau7890 ~
I'll agree in hindsight - yeah, he could have spoken up
earlier, but I think most dedicated people - and
particularly those with substantial years spent in their
field - try first to work within the system. There's no way
that Dr.Ross didn't know that blowing the whistle might
benefit us - but would be a career buster for him. I'm just
glad he finally realized the system was not going to make
the right decision and his conscience drove him to go it
alone.
You're right that it would have ended Ross's career, though it would probably have opened other doors if he'd blown the whistle at the time. And I agree that it's best to first try working within the system.
That said, it's been made clear for several years that our regulatory agencies aren't doing their job. (And given Dr. Ross's position, he'd know as well as anyone about the failings of the FDA in protecting consumers of drugs.) If I'd known what he knew, and the FDA prevented me from giving my information to the advisory panel--and then withheld that information during a criminal investigation, I'd have to go to the media.
Beau7890 ~
I don't believe there is one agency or department
within our government that is working FOR us right now.
It is an area where I expect A LOT from any incoming Prez.
It must NOT be a political or an industry payoff position.
We need experts in the field and those with a fervor to
make the system work for the people - you know, basic stuff
like improve the nation. Guaranteed - it has NEVER been this
bad before.
I agree completely. And I'm happy to see the media is no longer ignoring stories like this and taking the administration's word on its claims without checking them out. I'd like to see that skepticism continue or get stronger under all our future presidents, whoever they may be.
Beau7890 ~
Re: "media is no longer ignoring stories"
At the end of an eight year term, when his ratings are
under 20%.......NOW they get curious? Cable news has
not so much managed the news - as mangaged the opinion
making process of the American public - I will NEVER
forgive them! Gore was a joke? Kerry was a joke? But
Bush was a SERIOUS statesman?? Yeah - deadly serious
for some. The "left-leaning" media (LOL) that I used
to defend, absolutely infuriate me now.
Back in the late 80`s and early 90`s, back when Bush I called Reaganomics `Voodoo Economics`, I remember discussions of how the Reagan gutting of social programs, massive debt, and even massiver handouts to the power elites was in large part a purposeful and spiteful attempt to handcuff the next president. The Republicans more than half expected the next president would be a Dem, so instead of allowing the Dem free roam, they would knowingly leave such a mess that the Dem would have to devote large resources and effort to just cleaning up and getting back to `start`.
Certainly that is the case with this admin. It will take years for the next president to clean up this Bush`s disasters and corruption. The real problem is how to clean up the mess while at the same time promoting a liberal agenda.
The next president cannot get tied down in cleaning up - that would mean the criminals won.
For this reason alone I believe the next president needs a very strong Vice President to be the point man in the de-corruption campaign inside of government.
Otherwise, little will get done. We already know if the next prez is a Dem, the Right-wing media will do another full-court press with smear, slander, and sleaze in another front on the war to handcuff any Dem president.
When is Congress going to do their jobs? How many deaths are acceptable by the FDA? And are the drug companies and the careers of FDA administrators more important than the truth and the welfare of our citizens? Kudos to the congressmen who are finally trying to do what they are paid to do, to protect US citizens from unscrupulous drug companies and the FDA.
Well this one is a case of congress actually doing the right thing. The FDA not. And it looks as if there is a massive cover up going on (this was revealed by a whistleblower! who best watch his butt now no doubt.) The FDA has ignored a congressional subpoena to turn over their research data. Will Bush pardon the culprits? Or find a way to shield them?
Let's keep our eyes on this one, people have been killed by this unsafe drug.
[They ignored "red flags" about the bogus data, "they were loud signalsâ;¦they were bright signals."]
Basically, our bodies were their guinea pigs to determine how much money could be made prior to a recall.
Lovely, ain't it?
I say shut the whole damn company down. Revoke their patents, seize their assets, and ban its board members from ever operating a corporation ever again.
This is just more -lobbiests buying off politicinas..same old same old...lobbiests make crooks out of our
politicians.
If we never re elcted any politician, maybe we would not have them being bought all the time..Of course when one of our pols takes money he is then a crook..Which they all are, look at jefferson, caught by the FBI with thousands of dollars of marked money in his ice box,,what did Pelosi do???NOTHING< why not?? Cause--she is as dirty as he is, and she can not move lest he tell on her..it is a sorry mess...never re elect ny politician--ever--that is our only chance to change anything..
Corporations buy lobbyist who buy pols who appoint crooks to regulatory agencies who then get the `golden parachute` when they leave.
BTW, something is happening with that fraud Jefferson.
From CNN:
"The indictment in federal court in Alexandria, Va., lists 16 alleged violations with prison terms totaling as much as 235 years. Jefferson is charged with racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
He is the first sitting congressman to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas. Jefferson is to be arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria."
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Looks like they have done something other than worry about what baseball players ingested 10 years ago. That's a good thing. The Orwellian world we now live in, in which the FDA protects the interests of pharmaceutical companies instead of citizens, refuses to hand research over to congress when subpoenaed, and perjures itself before congress is getting exposed. People have died because of the FDA knowingly allowing a dangerous drug on the market. Will Bush claim this is a state secret too?
I don't know that it's so much Orwellian as simply more evidence of who really controls government. The FDA looks to the best interests of drug makers rather than drug takers, the FAA protects airlines rather passengers, the FCC takes care of Big Media rather than the public interest, and on and on.
Ah in 1984.. War is Peace... Hate is Love... etc. (that aspect of it.)
Radiofreeeuropa ~
On ANY issue - this administration has been the epitome
of, "Say one thing.......Do another".
You can take any issue from health care, the environment,
the economy, veterans affairs - ANYTHING. To get the truth
you must simply REVERSE what they tell us and you will have
the truth of the matter.
Per the FDA:
"The department has serious concerns about providing the kind of materials the committee has subpoenaedâ;¦such highly confidential and deliberative materials used to prepare witnesses testifying before Congress risks chilling the open exchange of views that is essential to the effective conduct of agency business."
Read that as "We must FREEZE the open exchange of views"
Yes- The clear skies initiative (allowing more pollutants), the patriot act (allowing warrentless wiretaps, unrestricted privacy invasion, secret prisons, suspension of habeas corpus, etc.) No child left behind (forcing teachers to teach to a test, eliminating critical thinking).
I was going to say there's no way Cheney Bush could claim this was related to national security, but the drugs in the water story was unbelievably claimed to be related to homeland security. So who knows?
you beat me to the punch line.