November 13th, 2012
Today, Congress did something good for the American public and good for science. After a 14-year struggle, the House and Senate approved a bipartisan whistleblower protection bill that will make a difference to all federal workers, but that should be especially welcomed by federal scientists. Read More
July 13th, 2012
In our fight for a better quality of life for all Americans, we need storytellers. We need to reach people through personal anecdotes, through editorial cartoons, through songs. We need to arm people with narratives of what is possible, so that together we may be successful in spurning the cynicism that supports the status quo and disillusions the disempowered. And few have done this better than the man who would have turned 100 years old tomorrow: songwriter and American folk hero Woody Guthrie.
But what do Woody’s writings have to do with science? As it turns out, plenty. Read More
June 29th, 2012
The news these days has rightly focused on the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on access to health care. But with scant media attention, Congress on June 26 sent a bill to the President that is just as important to the health and well-being of each and every American family, and the future of scientific integrity at the Food and Drug Administration. Read More
June 18th, 2012
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and some in Congress, argue that it’s difficult to find independent experts to serve on FDA’s scientific advisory committees due to strong financial conflict of interest standards.
Our experience proves otherwise. Read More
June 5th, 2012
Should scientists at the Food and Drug Administration be able to have honest disputes with their colleagues about the science behind a drug or medical device approval decision? Or should they keep quiet about their concerns, preferring not to rock the boat? Read More
May 18th, 2012
In the New England Journal of Medicine this week, scientists from Yale University published research finding that the Food and Drug Administration approves drugs faster than its counterparts in Canada and Europe. (Media coverage is here and here.) The study reinforces the fact that FDA can approve drugs with relative speed while putting the safety of Americans first. Read More
May 10th, 2012
At last, a bit of good news and a glimmer of hope from Congress. Last Tuesday evening (May 8), the Senate unanimously approved S. 743, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act. Read More
May 2nd, 2012
It is ironic that 50 years after the drug thalidomide was found to have caused serious harm to tens of thousands of babies in Europe and Great Britain, but not the U.S., both the Administration and Congress are backing efforts that could unravel the safety net and erode the power of American agencies to protect public health and safety. Read More
April 25th, 2012
After sharing the personal experiences of two separate UCS supporters—Gwen and her mother, Maxine and Elsa and her husband, Dan–with drug and device safety, I’ve heard from others who are also brave enough to share their stories with us. Henry H.’s tale about his metal on metal hip replacement is particularly touching, showing how a faulty medical device can have consequences not just for the victim but for his entire family. Read More
© 2013
