On The Front Lines
Government Whistleblower Allen Jones speaks to OldSpeak about pharmaceutical corruption and Industry Collusion with Government
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va--In an OldSpeak interview, government whistleblower Allen Jones speaks out about his landmark lawsuit over government corruption and collusion with the pharmaceutical industry. Speaking with Institute president John W. Whitehead, Jones describes how his findings as the lead investigator in a case involving off-the-books payments cost him his career and propelled him to the core of President Bush's national drug policies. The interview, "A Lone Wolf Takes on the Drug Leviathan," is available here.Allen Jones was appointed lead investigator at the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in July 2002 in a case concerning off-the-books payments from pharmaceutical companies. Jones' findings in the case showed that the drug company Janssen allegedly had paid honorariums to key state officials who held significant influence over the prescriptions issued for state institutions such as prisons and mental health hospitals. Although the accounts receiving these payments were marked for "educational grants," funds were being channeled to state employees who developed guidelines recommending new, more expensive drugs rather than older, cheaper drugs with safe, proven effects. According to Jones, these companies were influencing government officials with trips, perks and lavish travel accommodations as a means of inducing the officials to endorse their products. After initially revealing his discoveries to OIG managers, Jones was taken off the case but told that he could pursue it on his own. In the words of the OIG supervisor who took Jones off the case, "Drug companies write checks to politicians... on both sides of the aisle." When Jones went public with his findings, he was escorted out of his workplace and told not to reappear on OIG property. Jones then filed a suit against his supervisors, claiming that OIG's policy of barring employees from speaking to the press is unconstitutional. Calling the case "a critical test of the right to a free press," Jones' attorney said, "If they shut the employee up and they have all the documents locked up in a drawer, there is no free press." PennMap, which was investigated by Jones, is based on the Texas Medication Algorithm Project. TMAP was named as a model program by President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, which has announced its intent to administer nationwide mental health screening.
When asked what people can do to take a stand against corrupt pharmaceutical practices, Jones replied, "This isn't a David versus Goliath battle. There is no stone big enough to whack the pharmaceutical industry in the forehead and knock it over. These guys are operating in the shadows. They are operating in the dark. They are operating by buying off decision-makers in an illegal manner. There needs to be exposure of that."
OldSpeak, the online journal of The Rutherford Institute, is dedicated to publishing interviews, articles and commentary on subjects often overlooked by the mainstream media in the areas of politics, arts, culture, law and religion. The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
Founded in 1982 by constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead, The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
Related links:
Sign-up to receive The Rutherford Institute's Insider Report E-newsletter!
Sign-up to receive John W. Whitehead's Weekly Column today!
Sound Off! Tell us what you think about this news story!
Get your free copy of the Bill of Rights!
Support the Fight! Give Today!
Rutherford News Archives
Recent Victories!
The Rutherford Institute
|
