In Their Own Words . . . .

In Their Own Words - Ross

-- “Undisclosed conflicts raise questions about the decision-making capacity of the committees and whether the public can have confidence in their recommendations.”

From Joseph Ross, associate professor at Yale School of Medicine, on the Wall Street Journal report that many doctors who sit on Food and Drug Administration panels reviewing medical devices have links to device makers undisclosed by the FDA. Click

In Their Own Words - Miller

-- “Keep on blowing those whistles . . . .”

From House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL.) who has led the probe of the VA hospital scandal first unearthed by whistleblowers working inside the hospital system.  Click here for more.

In Their Own Words - Willingham

-- "WE CAN FIX IT.  WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS, AND WE CAN STILL ENJOY GAME DAY."

From UNC whistleblower Mary Willingham on her efforts to expose the academic fraud associated with big-time college sports.  Click here for more.

In Their Own Words - Markey

-- “Every single one of these Takata airbags could be a ticking time bomb.”

Senator Ed Markey commenting during a Congressional hearing on the defective airbags that have led to millions of vehicle recalls and have been attributed as the cause of several deaths and injuries.

In Their Own Words - Carlee

-- “I will not tolerate retaliation against an employee who makes such a report, and the city cannot afford to have employees second guess whether or not to make such a report.”

From Charlotte, North Carolina City Manager Ron Carlee on his decision to hire an independent third party to investigate an allegation the city fired a fire department investigator for complaining about what she believed to be unhealthy...

In Their Own Words - Henning

-- “WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS TO BE KNOWN AS WAS A TATTLETALE.  BUT AS GROWN-UPS, DISCLOSING SECRETS THAT GET OTHERS IN TROUBLE GOES BY A MORE FAVORABLE NICKNAME: WHISTLEBLOWER.”

From Peter J. Henning, Wayne State University Law School professor, in his New York Times piece today titled Tattletales Embraced as Whistleblower Programs Gain Support.

In Their Own Words - Mersiades

-- “IT TAKES A TOLL FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.  IN A RELATIVELY SMALL COUNTRY LIKE AUSTRALIA, YOU LOSE YOUR LIVELIHOOD; AND, AT MY STAGE IN LIFE, THE FINANCIAL SECURITY YOU WERE BUILDING FOR YOUR FAMILY.  BUT WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER HOW WE WANT OUR LIVES MEASURED.”

Whistleblower Bonita Mersiades discussing why she reported misconduct she perceived occurring in FIFA’s bidding process for hosting the World Cup.

In Their Own Words - Wootan

-- “This is one of the most important public health nutrition policies ever to be passed nationally.  Right now, you are totally guessing at what you are getting.  This rule will change that.”

From Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, on the FDA’s announcement of sweeping rules on disclosing calorie counts at chain restaurants, movie theatres and pizza...

In Their Own Words - Mattu

 -- “I’M NOT ALONE: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WHISTLEBLOWERS CRYING OUT FOR HELP.  IN FACT, I’M ALMOST UNIQUE IN THAT I’VE COME OUT THE OTHER END.”

From Dr Raj Mattu in the Guardian’s feature story on The Afterlife of the Whistleblower.

In Their Own Words - MacLean

-- "But even worse, we then received another order telling us to cancel all our hotel rooms – the missions would be cancelled.  We would not be on any flights, despite the fact that we had all been warned of a credible terrorist threat. "

Former Air Marshal and whistleblower Robert MacLean, explaining one of the dangers that compelled him to go public with his concerns.