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For a year now, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reviewed the ways that Congress communicated with federal whistleblowers and handled their information. And at the beginning of May, the GAO finally released the updates they plan to make so that they can better protect whistleblowers.
Congress improves practices to protect whistleblowers
Whistleblowing v. leaking: What is the difference?
The name Julian Assange is in the news once again. He is most well-known for founding WikiLeaks, which exposes human rights violations and corruption worldwide. Many of the news stories about Assange and his recent arrest refer to him as a whistleblower.
However—as the name of his organization would suggest—the term that best fits his situation is leaking. His website allows people to leak information to the public.
Whistleblowers help fight 97,000% increase in price of medication
Everyone knows that drug reps meet with doctors and offer them gifts to increase the number of prescriptions for their medications. But what happens when the doctors don’t want to meet with the reps? The pharmaceuticals might start bribing the doctors’ office staff.
This was one of the revelations in a recent suit filed against Mallinckrodt. Its H.P. Acthar Gel was designed to treat infants’ seizures but was sold for other issues like MS and rheumatoid arthritis as its price skyrocketed from $40 a vial in 2000 to nearly $39,000 today. The suit ties the outrageous price increases to bribes the company offered doctors in the form of lucrative speaking engagements and other kickbacks. But, in a twist, it also puts office workers squarely on the front lines.
Whistleblowers involved in cases of recent aviation crashes
When a whistleblower decides to voice their concerns, they take a great risk with the hope that they can benefit and protect others. Unfortunately, things do not always turn out how they plan.
Big corporations often ignore whistleblowers. And sometimes, their claims are overlooked. This might have been the case with the whistleblowers from Boeing.
How has the process of whistleblowing changed over the years?
The Government Accountability Project published a timeline of whistleblowers throughout the United States history. The timeline dates back to 1773, setting up a long history of whistleblowing—before the term “whistleblowing” even existed.
Whistleblowers have played an essential role in U.S. society since the country's founding. However, the methods of whistleblowing have changed over the years.
Whistleblowers draw attention to excessive drug testing
Whistleblowers play a huge part in keeping our industries honest, and nowhere is their dedication more important than in the medical industry. Without their oversight and action, billions of dollars may end up wasted, as shown by a recent suit against a pain management chain.
Federal lawsuits accuse Comprehensive Pain Specialists (CPS) of committing at least five different forms of fraud. They also draw attention toward the rapid rise of urine testing and the ways fraudulent testing may be increasing the costs of health care.
How employers use NDAs to scare whistleblowers
The world of business is filled with secrets. Companies go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property, trade secrets and specific processes, so they can maintain the edge they need to succeed.
Some of those great lengths include non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). NDAs can cover a wide range of issues, from customer finances to inventions, but their primary purpose is to protect a company's interests. However, there are many cases of New York employers misusing NDAs against their employees.
The elements necessary to prove employer retaliation
It is against both state and federal laws for an employer to retaliate against a whistleblower. Unfortunately, it is still prevalent.
When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigates retaliation claims, there are specific elements they must prove. Here is a quick review of those essential factors.
Case shows torturous route of a whistleblower
After bringing to light a series of public safety threats, air marshal Robert Maclean was fired in March 2019 for the second time.
His story shows the sometimes tortuous path the career of a whistleblower can take.
Whistleblower gets $33 million in research fraud settlement
A lab research analyst who was ostracized and vilified after he blew the whistle on research fraud at Duke University Health Systems has been awarded $33.75 million as part of the university’s $112.5 million settlement with the government.
Joseph Thomas spent more than a year unemployed after he told about fraudulent research on the lung functioning of mice that was awarded dozens of grants starting in 2006 from the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.
