Most Federal scientists accused of conflicts of interest avoid criminal investigations

Only two of the 44 NIH scientists found to have violated ethics rules on outside consulting agreements with health care companies face investigations for possible criminal activity, and they remain employed by the federal government, the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports (Beamish, AP/Arizona Daily Star, 9/13).

Trey Sunderland, chief of the geriatric psychiatry branch at the National Institute of Mental Health, provided Pfizer with human tissue samples in exchange for payments in violation of HHS ethics rules and federal laws, according to a preliminary report released in June by investigators for the House Energy and Commerce Committee (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 6/14).

Senior NIH researcher Thomas Walsh accepted more than $100,000 in unauthorized fees from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, according to an internal NIH report.

The report found that Walsh received outside income from 25 companies from 1999 through 2004 and failed to report the income to NIH.

In addition, Walsh led studies sponsored by NIH that involved medication manufactured by some of the companies from which he received fees, according to the report (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/11).

The other 42 scientists received reprimands or were allowed to retire without punishment.

NIH spokesperson John Burklow said that the agency sought to have eight additional scientists investigated for possible criminal activity but was denied by the HHS Office of Inspector General.

NIH officials said that the agency cannot fire Sunderland and Walsh because they are members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) asked, "Where's the accountability? Where's the response?"

A House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday will address the issue (AP/Arizona Daily Star, 9/13).