David J. Graham, M.D., M.P.H., is a drug safety whistleblower working at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On November 18, 2004, Dr. Graham testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance about Merck’s withdrawal of the popular anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. He testified that FDA policies could not protect the public from drugs with
Sen. Grassley asks pharma about whistleblower policies
Sen. Charles Grassley today released copies of his letters to 16 big pharmaceutical companies about their whistleblower policies. Bloomberg news service is also reporting on these inquiries. The letters review 
Sen. Grassley’s efforts to strengthen the False Claims Act (FCA), and ask what the companies are doing to inform employees about the FCA, and then
ARB asks for briefs on SOX subsidiary coverage
Last week the U.S. Department of Labor’s Administrative Review Board (ARB) issued an order inviting all interested persons to submit briefs on whether employees of subsidiaries are protected by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). The briefs are due July 15, 2010. The invitation comes in the case of Carri Johnson v. Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., ARB
Maryland Senate passes watered-down state False Health Claims Act
The Maryland Senate yesterday passed a state version of the False Claims Act (FCA) by a vote of 37 in favor and 8 against. Before passing this bill, however, the Senate watered it down with an amendment. The Maryland False Health Claims Act of 2010, SB 279, as amended, no longer allows the state
U.S. Government and 16 States Join False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Pharm Co. Wyeth
The United States Government, along with the governments of 15 states and the District of Columbia, have joined with two whistleblowers who allege that drug manufacturer Wyeth bilked US taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars. As reported in the Wall Street Journal and the FierceHealthcare website, Wyeth is accused of overcharging Medicare and
Obama’s Hardest Promise: Protecting Workers Who Blow The Whistle
Senator Barack Obama won the presidential election this week running as the candidate for change. The change he promised included bringing transparency and accountability back into the federal government.
During the past year, we have watched President-Elect Obama use his persuasive oratory to change the American political landscape. His oratory included strong public commitments to