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SilverEarring's avatar

I realize you are correct about protections, but I assume you would agree that had he reported his findings to a government agency, it would be years before anyone would notice, read, respond, investigate, etc. In the story of the dumpster-fire Generic drug company Ranbaxy, it took FDA at least 2 years before they even acknowledged the multitude of emails sent by the whistleblower and then multiple more years to complete their investigation. The system is so badly messed up, I can understand why he did what he did. These are human beings that were being harmed.

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Daniel Junas's avatar

I agree that reporting to a government agency would probably have been pointless. My only point was that he cannot legally claim whistleblower protection for leaking to a journalist.

I don´t have any trouble understanding why he did what he did, or why so many consider him a hero. But I still think his actions were unethical and ill-advised. And regardless, as a result of his own actions, he now faces serioius legal consequences.

More than anything, I want to make clear the facts of the matter.

If I had been advising him, I would have suggested that he take his concerns to sympathetic state legislators, in particular the prime movers behind the law that passed after Rufo´s article appeared. They would have had the power to investigate, without compromising patient confidentiality.

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SilverEarring's avatar

I hope and pray that he consulted an attorney before he went public.

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Daniel Junas's avatar

It doesn´t seem like he did. No responsible attorney would have advised him to break the law. Though his wife is an attorney.

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