As reported in the Washington Post on January 30, 2012, six current and former FDA employeesare suing to stop the agency from illegally spying on private communications to Congress and otheroversight agencies. The problem began in 2007 when nine scientists and doctors in the Office ofDevice Evaluation complained internally that the FDA was in the process of approving at least twelveradiological devices which were potentially harmful and posed risks to millions of patients. Insteadof investigating the devices, the FDA set up a secret surveillance system to monitor those who hadcomplained. Information illegally gathered from personal email accounts was used to harass thewhistleblowers. The FDA twice asked Health and Human Services to launch an investigation, accusingthe scientists of releasing confidential business information about devices they believed to be unsafe.Of the six scientists who have filed suit against the FDA, two were fired, two did not have their contractsrenewed, and two continue to suffer harassment and have been passed over for promotion.

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