Few Researchers Punished for Ethics Violations

Just two of 44 federal scientists found to have violated ethics rules in their dealings with drug or biotech companies have been subject to criminal investigation, while the others were either allowed to quietly retire or kept their jobs, the Associated Press reported Sept. 12.

Information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that most of the researchers who unethically took industry money got away with little more than a reprimand. An NIH spokesperson said the agency wanted to pursue charges against 8 other researchers, but was rebuffed by the investigative staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Two researchers, Trey Sunderland, an Alzheimer's expert, and Thomas Walsh, a cancer scientist, have been accused of "serious misconduct."

Since the scandal about payments to government researchers broke in 2004, NIH has implemented a policy barring federal scientists from taking money from private firms. But Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that, "In spite of the public changes that have been made at NIH, there really does not appear to be a cultural change where the institution and the members of the institution condemn the kind of behavior that apparently Dr. Sunderland has exhibited. It's really, really disappointing."

Six of the 44 ethics offenders identified by NIH left the agency before they could be punished; most of the others got a reprimand for failing to report their relationships with private companies, while a few got suspensions ranging from a week to 45 days.

Sunderland earning more than $600,000 in outside consulting fees over eight years and Walsh earned more than $100,000 over five years.