yeahright
Well-known member
August 7, 2006
Nearly one-fifth of FDA scientists report being asked to exclude or alter information
A survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has found that 18.4 percent of 997 scientists surveyed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "have been asked, for nonscientific reasons, to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or their conclusions in a FDA scientific document." Additionally, 40 percent of those surveyed stated that they feared retaliation for expressing safety concerns in public, and more than a third did not feel they could even express safety concerns within the agency.
In addition to the above, 61 percent of respondents knew of instances in which Department of Health and Human Services or FDA political appointees had inappropriately entered into FDA determinations or actions. Additionally, 60 percent were aware of cases "where commercial interests have inappropriately induced or attempted to induce the reversal, withdrawal or modification of FDA determinations or actions," and half of the respondents reported that nongovernmental interests such as advocacy groups had similarly attempted to induce such changes.
When asked whether they agreed that the "FDA routinely provides complete and accurate information to the public," and if "FDA leadership is as committed to product safety as it is to bringing products to the market," less than half of the scientists responded positively.
In addressing these results, the Union of Concerned Scientists recommends that the FDA increase accountability and transparency, and provide protection for scientists who speak out. Dr Francesca Grifo, who is the director of the UCS Scientific Integrity Program stated, "All federal scientists need protections so they can speak out when their science is is manipulated, and all federal agencies need fully functioning independent advisory committees. FDA leadership must understand and support independent science and it is up to Congress to hold them accountable."
Nearly one-fifth of FDA scientists report being asked to exclude or alter information
A survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has found that 18.4 percent of 997 scientists surveyed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "have been asked, for nonscientific reasons, to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or their conclusions in a FDA scientific document." Additionally, 40 percent of those surveyed stated that they feared retaliation for expressing safety concerns in public, and more than a third did not feel they could even express safety concerns within the agency.
In addition to the above, 61 percent of respondents knew of instances in which Department of Health and Human Services or FDA political appointees had inappropriately entered into FDA determinations or actions. Additionally, 60 percent were aware of cases "where commercial interests have inappropriately induced or attempted to induce the reversal, withdrawal or modification of FDA determinations or actions," and half of the respondents reported that nongovernmental interests such as advocacy groups had similarly attempted to induce such changes.
When asked whether they agreed that the "FDA routinely provides complete and accurate information to the public," and if "FDA leadership is as committed to product safety as it is to bringing products to the market," less than half of the scientists responded positively.
In addressing these results, the Union of Concerned Scientists recommends that the FDA increase accountability and transparency, and provide protection for scientists who speak out. Dr Francesca Grifo, who is the director of the UCS Scientific Integrity Program stated, "All federal scientists need protections so they can speak out when their science is is manipulated, and all federal agencies need fully functioning independent advisory committees. FDA leadership must understand and support independent science and it is up to Congress to hold them accountable."
