Bush's Pick for FDA Chief REFUSES to give Congress Subpoenaed info on deadly antibiotic

[elehhhhna]

Drug regulator, U.S. senator clash over investigation of antibiotic

(AP) - WASHINGTON-President George W. Bush's choice to head the Food and Drug Administration is refusing to give Congress all the information it seeks about a contentious antibiotic, setting up further confrontations with a Republican senator blocking his nomination.

The agency's acting chief, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, said full disclosure of the information about Ketek could have a chilling effect on the FDA's ability to be an independent and objective evaluator of drug safety and other issues.

The statement came in a written response to questions by Sen. Charles Grassley, who is blocking Senate confirmation of von Eschenbach while he investigates the FDA's handling of Ketek. The antibiotic has been linked to severe liver problems and several deaths.

"Selectively providing documents and access to executive agency officials pursuant to a congressional subpoena cannot constitute compliance," Grassley wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt on Wednesday.

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/p/56/12-01-2006/8640000d02667430.html

[Deep13]

1. Send the Sgt. at Arms with an armed escort to go get it...

...or hold what's-his-name under arrest until he complies.

[The Count]

2. HOW DARES CONGRESS INTERFERE WITH THEIR RIGHT TO KILL US?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. While turning a hefty profit, of course.

Don't they know that profit is the bottom line, not the well being of the masses!

[Old and In the Way]

4. How perfectly Orwellian-

"full disclosure of the information about Ketek could have a chilling effect on the FDA's ability to be an independent and objective evaluator of drug safety and other issues"

Because, by not letting us know, they are being "independent and objective".

[ljm2002]

5. It was the same argument Cheney used...

...when various entities tried to get information about his energy meetings. He said it would have a chilling effect on their ability to get advice from private industry.

When, oh when are the American people going to notice the discrepancy between how they behaved when it was a Democratic President -- when the Republicans and their lackeys bayed like hounds to get any and all Clinton documents, for the slightest thing, and when they railroaded him into testifying in a civil case; versus when there's a Republican President, where this crew apparently doesn't have to produce anything it doesn't want to, whether subpoenaed or not.

I really, truly want to see this cabal crushed and ground into historical oblivion.

[brook]

6. Arrest the SOB for contempt!

One recovers, One has transplant, One dies Scroll down left hand column to Ketek.

and there's lots more out there on the Nets. ODIS blog has excellent links....damning links to the shenanigans of the FDA and its enablers.

[eliphaslevi]

7. FDA Objective? haha!

"FDA's ability to be an independent and objective evaluator of drug safety and other issues"

Is this the same agency that allowed dangerous artificial sweeteners on the market while banning a natural and harmless alternative like Stevia? They are anything but objective and independent.