FDA "fundamentally broken"; scientists ask Obama for help

By GottaLaff

I'm not a big fan of defective medical devices, are you? I mean, not counting any that the Nation of Dick might sport:

A group of scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team pleading with him to restructure the agency, saying managers have ordered, intimidated and coerced scientists to manipulate data in violation of the law.

The nine scientists, whose names have been provided to the transition team and to some members of Congress, say the FDA is a "fundamentally broken" agency and describe it as a place where honest employees committed to integrity can't act without fear of reprisal.

"There is an atmosphere at FDA in which the honest employee fears the dishonest employee," according to the letter, addressed to John Podesta, head of Mr. Obama's transition team.

The letter will likely increase pressure on Tom Daschle, Mr. Obama's choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, to make sweeping changes at the agency.

What?! BushCo politicizing? Again? Pfft. That's so Alberto Gonzales ago.

The scientists' main concerns are with the agency's scientific review process for medical devices, which they characterize as having been "corrupted and distorted by current FDA managers, thereby placing the American people at risk."[...]

The group says they have taken their concerns to the head of the FDA, Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, and his assistant commissioner for accountability and integrity, attorney Bill McConagha. The scientists say no one has been held accountable, and say some of the problematic managers have been promoted and rewarded.

I'm feeling a few more Medals of Freedom coming on.

The agency has been under fire from both parties in both Houses of Congress as being too close to industry. Several leading politicians, including Sen. Chuck Grassley have complained that FDA leaders often ignore or suppress their own scientists' opinions on safety issues involving drugs and devices. [...]

The group said there needs to be a complete restructuring of the evaluation and approval process, and that Mr. Obama needs to sign new legislation giving protection to government employees who speak out against corruption.

IMHO, P.E. Obama already needs another vacation.