http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/313/27/

Congress to Probe NIH Conflict of Interest Policies
Friday, 11 August 2006
Congressional leaders have lost patience with the cat and mouse game
being played by officials of  the National Institutes of Health.
NIH officials have yet to do something about NIH scientists' conflicts
of interest.
Following the latest revelations in a Los Angeles Times a series of
investigational reports about documented conflicts of interst at the
NIH, The House Energy and Commerce Committee asked NIH to provide it
with its conflict of interest policies by week's end.

At the center of this latest case, Dr. Thomas Walsh of the National
Cancer Institute is reported to have received undisclosed payments from
drug companies for services rendered on their behalf at FDA hearings.
See: http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/292/55/

U.S. conflict-of-interest law generally prohibits a federal employee
from representing an outside party before a government agency.

But NIH officials think they can disregard laws. NIH had failed to
dsclose these payments to Congress.  According to the LA Times, "Two of
the companies, Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co., have acknowledged paying
Walsh fees in recent years."

The Committee "is seeking to determine if there is a sufficient factual
basis to formally investigate questions about National Institutes of
Health policy, the adequacy of NIH oversight or other issues that may
be raised by the conduct of this NIH scientist."

How is it that The New York Times with its far greater resources has
seen fit even to mention the lawless conduct by NIH senior scientists?

*****

TC