The IRE office will be closed from December 25th to January 5th.
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Censured doctors among Pfizer’s paid experts
An investigation by Peter Aldhous and Jim Giles of NewScientist found that some of the experts used by Pfizer to lead educational forums have been “disciplined for deficiencies in patient care, while others have been reprimanded for how they conducted drug research trials.“
Read MoreProblems plague Georgia’s foster care system
An investigation by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed widespread problems in Georgia’s foster care system. “The newspaper reviewed more than 1,500 reports of state inspections and investigations, which provide an astonishing narrative of stark conditions and inadequate oversight in small foster homes and large group facilities alike. ” In one case, an 17-year-old with a history…
Read MoreArmy trauma units failing to meet needs of soldiers
James Dao and Dan Frosch, of The New York Times, report on Warrior Transition Units that were created in the wake of the Walter Reed scandal. Meant as safe havens for soldiers as they recuperated from injuries and transitioned back into active duty or civilian life, the units “are far from being restful sanctuaries. For many…
Read MoreSafety practices at coal mines vary throughout U.S.
An investigation by Dan Barry, Ian Urbina and Clifford Krauss, of The New York Times, shows wide discrepancies in safety practices at coal mines throughout the United States. Mine disasters, such as the methane explosion that caused 29 fatalities at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine, have colored the national perception of the industry. “A…
Read MoreFailures in electronic record systems may pose danger to patients
A review of Food and Drug Administration reports by Fred Schulte and Emma Schwartz, of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund, revealed failures in electronic medical records systems that have resulted in death or serious injuries for patients. These “adverse events” could indicate bigger issues as hospitals make the move from paper to electronic records. Experts…
Read MoreCarbon offsets have little impact on global warming
A joint investigation by The Christian Science Monitor and the New England Center for Investigative Reporting “found that individuals and businesses who are feeding a $700 million global market in offsets are often buying vague promises instead of the reductions in greenhouse gases they expect.” Carbon offsets are unregulated and often linked to projects that…
Read MoreConsumers call tactics of debt collectors abusive
An investigation by Mc Nelly Torres, of ConsumerAffairs.com, found consumers complaining of illegal, abusive conduct as collectors defy federal and state enforcers. “There’s no doubt that the debt collection industry is thriving. You can’t get blood from a rock, but these guys are trying,” said Ira Rheingold, executive director and general counsel of the National…
Read MoreNursing homes collected million yet cut staff, wages
An investigation by Christina Jewett and Agustin Armendariz of California Watch shows that 232 nursing homes in California “either cut staff, paid lower wages or let caregiver levels slip below a state-mandated minimum” despite collecting about $236 million in additional funding intended to hire more caregivers and increase wages. “Many nursing homes appeared to use…
Read MoreDozens tricked into registering to vote Republican
Brian Joseph of The Orange County Register reports on how petitioners “tricked dozens of young Orange County voters into registering to vote as Republicans.” Written complaints have been filed with state election officials by at least 99 people who have been unwittingly registered to vote Republican. A similar fraud landed eight petitioners in jail in…
Read MoreLittle done to deter violations of Clean Air Act
Through analysis of Clean Air Act data kept by the Environmental Protection agency, The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Ind.) found government regulators have a list of more than 200 facilities in Indiana they say have broken air pollution laws in the past three years, yet little or nothing has been done to stop them. The…
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