FDA Tracked Staff Emails on Medical Device Review
As part of a secret surveillance effort, FDA officials tracked personal emails sent by former and current scientists and staff to individuals and the media about concerns with the agency's medical device review and approval processes, records show. FDA officials acknowledged that the monitoring effort involved members of Congress, journalists and other individuals but added that it was limited to communications from five scientists whom they suspected of leaking confidential information about the safety and design of medical devices.
- "Vast FDA Effort Tracked E-Mails of Its Scientists" (Lichtblau/Shane, New York Times, 7/14).
- "FDA Surveillance Operation Draws Criticism From Lawmakers" (Lange et al, Reuters/Hartford Courant, 7/15).
- "FDA Looks at Release of Files on Devices" (Burton, Wall Street Journal, 7/15).