FDA Officials Criticized for Secrecy: Public calendars blank, no record of industry contacts

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: FDA Officials Criticized for Secrecy
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 30, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For years, the public calendars of two top federal drug safety officials were largely blank -- devoid of the required detail about their contacts with the industry they regulated.

Open government experts and lawmakers said it is only the latest example of the lack of transparency at the Food and Drug Administration and a violation of the spirit of open government. The FDA attributed it to administrative oversight.

A review by House Republican staff found the public calendars for Drs. Janet Woodcock and Steven Galson virtually empty. Woodcock is a deputy FDA commissioner and former drug chief. Galson is current drug chief.

There were just three listings for Woodcock between January 1999 and December 2006, even though she occupied two positions during that time that required her meetings to be listed: director of the center for drug evaluation and research and, later, deputy commissioner for operations. Investigators found no listings for Galson, who took over the drugs office from Woodcock on a full-time basis in July 2005.

Once notified by the congressional staff, the FDA began to retroactively fill in the calendar. It showed that the two had met during that period with drug company executives, lobbyists, patient groups and others.

Federal regulations require the FDA to maintain a public calendar that details all ''significant meetings'' between its top brass and anyone outside the executive branch. There is no punishment for failing to disclose the information, but open government experts called it crucial to make public all the same....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-FDA-Empty-Calendars.html

[antigop]

1. So -- whom were they meeting with?

What are they hiding?

[kurth]

American government, Cheney-style

or is it Soviet-style?

[kurth]

2. delete dup

[mzmolly]

3. Only 3 recs?!

Let's get this to the GREATEST PAGE folks!

Thanks for sharing this very important info DMM :hi:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Anytime, mzmolly!

:hi:

[annabanana]

5. Well, Maybe if their calendars are empty, they haven't been DOING

anything for the last couple of years. I say they pay back their salaries or get charged with theft.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Pay them accordingly.

[farmboxer]

7. Kevin Trudeau was right again!

He told it like it is!!!!!!! Michael Moore told it like it is!!!!!!!

[Cerridwen]

8. Surprise!

Er, not so much.

[Rex]

9. FDA = DOA

[dEMOK]

10. K & Emphatic R...

...Only more proof that "our" entire government under this administration is totally awash with corporate corruption. You can't turn around without bumping into it.

The really scary part is that these people so secretive, the size of the submerged iceberg must be staggering -- given the size of the exposed tip.