By Allen Jones
Former Investigator,
Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General

On March 4, 2010, The Washington Times posted a scathing op-ed by Dr. Gilbert Ross in which Ross slammed Senator Grassley, Senator Baucus and FDA Whistleblower David Graham.   In a rambling tirade Ross accuses the trio of tinkering with the practice of medicine by unfairly criticizing pharmaceutical companies and defends GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and their discredited drug Avandia.

Ross fails to disclose that he has a personal reason for being angry with the Federal Government. In June of 1993, Ross was found guilty in Federal Court of 13 counts of fraud in a scheme to operate medical clinics for the purpose of obtaining payments directly and indirectly from the Medicaid system. He served 2 years in Federal Prison. http://w3.health.state.ny.us/opmc/factions.nsf/0522fed2dd2160ff852568c0004e894a/85b1e5abf211b2a585256a4a0047eb10/$FILE/ATTH2LGV/lc116347.pdf

Ross is identified as “medical director of the American Council on Science and Health,” but Ross discloses no financial ties to GSK.  The ACSH website however acknowledges that 40% of ACSH’s budget comes from “corporations.”  Does this include Pharma funding? http://www.acsh.org/about/pageID.85/default.asp

It is disgraceful that The Washington Times would post Ross’ criticism of great men and their worthy cause without disclosing very relevant facts relating to Ross’ credibility.

Allen Jones worked as an investigator in the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and gained widespread national and international attention as a whistleblower after uncovering pharmaceutical industry payments to government officials for the purpose of implementing a national mental health screening/psychotropic drug treatment plan based on the controversial Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). In May 2004, the British Medical Journal reported Jones had uncovered evidence major drug companies sought to influence government officials.