They Learned it from Justice Thomas

The U.S. House of Representatives (note to foreign readers: this is where the really conservative Americans go to learn to run the government) has taken the smart path out of its past few years of ethics scandals, which, after all, only involved marginal political figures like Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Nothing drastic planned, just a simple reform intended to prevent America from hearing over and over again about corruption in the House. Ethics classes? No. Try "new rules."

The proposal being circulated among House Republicans would end a general rule against any behavior that might bring "discredit" on the chamber, according to House Republican and Democratic leadership aides. House members would be held to a narrower standard of behavior in keeping with the law, the House's rules and its ethics guidelines.

Don't ask. Don't tell.

The Great Betrayal: Fraud in Science

Brian Alexander let us know about this San Diego Union-Tribune review of Horace Freeland Judson's new book documenting the incredible increase in fraud in science. The book not only uses some "classic" fraud cases but vividly demonstrates the fraud in many well-known scientific endeavors, and the fraud perpetrated by many well-respected scientists. This book could clearly replace many of the "most scientists are great, and almost all are well-intentioned, but rare bad apples spoil it all" textbooks in research ethics.

Medtronic (Again)

A Des Moines hospital employee has filed suit over alleged Medtronic pacemaker kickbacks in excess of $1 million. This is one of the bigger, clearer conflict of interest and kickback scandals of the past five years. Miles is quoted.

Did the FDA Work Against Revealing Vioxx Findings?

Washington Post quotes an FDA official, David Graham, who indicates that in fact he was told to "water down" the report on the hazards of Vioxx.

Advanced Cell to California

From Chris Mooney, an LA Times story today on the planned opening of anAdvanced Cell Techology facility in California. Lanza at ACT is right that lots of companies will be moving west, but one can be sure that there are those in the U.S. hES research community - those who weathered the last two ACT-created microscandals - who are wondering why ACT couldn't keep moving west until they get to Singapore...