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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said that most Americans
would find it against the law for National Institutes of Health personnel
to receive cash and stock options from some of the very prescription drug
and medical device companies whose science NIH is supposed to objectively
evaluate.
During
a hearing of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations,
Schakowsky added that major steps must be taken to remove even the appearance
of questionable ethics at the NIH personnel. Below is the written
text of Schakowsky’s opening statement:
Statement
of the Honorable Jan Schakowsky
Energy
and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing
on NIH Ethics Concerns
June
22, 2004
Thank
you Chairman Greenwood for convening today’s hearing, the third in a series
of oversight opportunities to review concerns about ethics at the National
Institutes of Health and the consulting arrangements and outside awards
of NIH personnel.
This
issue is so critical because it goes to the integrity of science and the
safety and efficacy of medical technology upon which the American public
and the medical community rely. Consumers, and their caretakers in
the medical field, rely on sound science for guidance on the most appropriate
types of care. Consumers need to know that the science upon which
their doctors rely is based on legitimate evaluations and not tainted by
side deals. I think most American consumers would assume that cash, stock,
stock options and other types of pay for outside consulting arrangements
that NIH personnel have with drug companies and others in industry, would
be against the rules. I know I was surprised to hear that some senior
officials at NIH received cash gifts as part of the awards given to them
by some of the same companies that receive funding from NIH.
In
some cases it appears that these deals could amount to more than the regular
salaries of some NIH personnel. It is hard for me to accept any argument
that NIH’s medical scientists or senior personnel need to enter into such
agreements.
These
agreements are not just a question of a little moonlighting-they are day-lighting
too, with the very prescription drug and medical device companies whose
science NIH is supposed to objectively evaluate.
Why
can’t NIH commit to finding scientists who will do their jobs for the salary
they agree to receive without doing lucrative side deals outside of the
office?
Even
the appearance of such behavior is damaging and NIH and other agencies
must take action to ensure the proper safeguards are in place to prevent
such activities. So, today, I am looking forward to hearing the response
to concerns raised by this Subcommittee. I hope the response will
include immediate and concrete steps to remove even the appearance of questionable
ethics at NIH. Anything short will be unacceptable. Thank you. |
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