Latest news with #whistleblowers
CBS News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
BGE whistleblowers allege gas safety failures in new filing, company denies wrongdoing
In a new filing, former Baltimore Gas and Electric employees are accusing the company of widespread safety failures after a former inspector falsified reports on gas pipeline work. The whistleblowers claim that an unredacted investigative report by the PSC confirms that BGE misled the commission about the job responsibilities of a discredited inspector. The original report was issued on April 11 by the PSC's Engineering Division as part of its investigation into the falsified gas pipeline work. It was heavily redacted after an order to remove all but personal identifying information, according to David Baña, the attorney for the whistleblowers. The whistleblowers claim that the unredacted report provides evidence that BGE downplayed the responsibilities of the discredited employee in its response to the PSC's report, in an effort to avoid taking responsibility for gas pipeline safety oversights. "The revised public version, filed as an exhibit to a filing last week Thursday, contradicts BGE's claims that the inspector's job duties had nothing to do with safety and that he was only responsible for conducting 'spot checks' of contractor work," Baña wrote in a statement. "According to the job description and data supplied by BGE itself, the inspector was responsible for ensuring that gas pipeline construction adhered to all applicable BGE and jurisdictional safety standards—including those set forth in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline Safety Regulations," But BGE says the employee was not responsible for safety inspections and that his role was simply to ensure that contractors' specific work aligned with contractual milestones. "There is absolutely zero indication that the former employee's actions or inactions have compromised the safety and integrity of BGE's gas distribution system. Rather, this individual former employee's actions involved a personnel matter—one falsified report, which BGE discovered through its own investigation," BGE wrote in a response to the filing. In December 2024, the group of former BGE employees petitioned the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to intervene in BGE's rate proposal process. The whistleblowers alleged that a BGE construction inspector falsified gas pipeline inspection records over a span of four years, regularly skipped required field inspections, and submitted false reports, with BGE management failing to hold the inspector accountable. Although the PSC denied the initial petition, it launched an investigation. In a report issued in April 2025, the PSC concluded that BGE did not adequately investigate or repair infrastructure potentially compromised by inspection fraud, which the commission warned could risk public safety and improperly charge ratepayers for incomplete work. BGE disputed the whistleblowers' claims of safety oversights after the initial report was released. The company said that only one falsified report existed, and that disciplinary action taken against the employee was based on poor performance, not fraud. The utility company insisted there was no widespread pattern of falsification and denied reports of issues in 2023, contrary to the PSC's findings. The company then filed a motion for contempt against the whistleblowers and Baña, claiming they violated court orders by publicly discussing details that could affect ongoing litigation, including sharing information with the press and on social media. On July 8, a Baltimore court denied the contempt motion, siding with the whistleblowers and their legal team. Attorneys for the whistleblowers argued that BGE's legal actions were an attempt to silence critics and discourage them from reporting internal problems.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Major HRT supplier sanctioned after whistleblowers raise concerns over patient safety
A major UK supplier of menopause drug HRT has been sanctioned after whistleblowers claimed patients were being put at risk, it has emerged. A group of employees from Theramex, which supplies HRT treatments to millions of patients in the UK, wrote a letter to the pharmaceutical regulator Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry over allegations the company was not following regulatory standards and may 'jeopardise' patient safety. The whistleblowers claimed some products featured inaccurate prescribing information and failed to highlight common side effects. They claimed they had been forced to contact the regulator after their attempts to raise issues internally were brushed off. The company has now admitted it breached regulatory codes, amounting to 'bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in the pharmaceutical industry', according to an interim case report from the ABPI. It also failed to maintain high standards and provide accurate and up-to-date prescribing information, the report said. Theramex is a global pharmaceutical company specialising in women's health products, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and fertility treatments. Theramex UK is its London-based arm. It supplies common HRT therapies including Evorel, Bijuve and Intrarosa. From April to June 2025, there were 760,000 prescriptions of Evorel and 2,748 prescriptions of Bijuve, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority. In 2023-24, there were 2.8 million prescriptions of Evorel. One employee wrote the complaint on behalf of a group, according to the complaint published by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, which is part of the ABPI. The complaint, filed in October 2024, said: 'We are a group of employees from various cross-functional teams at Theramex, and we are writing to express our growing concerns regarding the company's adherence to regulatory standards and the accountability of its leadership. 'While we have attempted to escalate these issues internally on numerous occasions, there has been a consistent lack of action or meaningful response, which leaves us with no choice but to seek external guidance and support.' The complaint alleged that some of Theramex's products, such as Intrarosa and Evorel, had not had their prescribing information updated. In the case of Evorel, information for health professionals was 'incomplete' and did not include information on common side effects such as uterine spasms and vaginal infection, the letter claimed. For another drug, the letter alleged that prescribing information had not been updated for five years. The complaint warned: 'This oversight can lead to healthcare professionals (HCPs) not being fully informed of potential risks, which could jeopardise patient safety.' The PMCPA panel found Theramix's 'failure to provide accurate and complete prescribing information was unacceptable'. The employees also alleged the company failed to comply with regulators for clinical trial compliance warning. 'The lack of resources within Theramex's global headquarters to ensure compliance with these standards is alarming,' it said. Finally, the letter alleged the company has a 'blame culture' that was 'deeply concerning.' In response to the complaint, Theramex UK said it took its obligations under the ABPI code of practice 'very seriously' and launched an internal investigation. It said that, although it had a process to update prescribing information, this was not sufficiently robust to ensure prescribing information was immediately updated. The pharma company acknowledged it did not meet standards concerning this allegation and admitted that, at the time of the complaint, it did not have a process in place for clinical studies. The employees' letter claimed it had tried to escalate matters to senior leaders within Theramex. The company claimed it was not aware of any of the matters having been escalated internally prior to them being reported to the regulator. As part of the sanction, Theramex must provide written confirmation that it will cease practices that breach codes, pay a charge and advertise details of the case. Theramex UK said it 'absolutely acknowledges' the recent ruling and 'respects the [regulator's] decision'. 'Of course, we remain fully committed to ensuring our practices align with the highest ethical standards and necessary steps and corrective measures have been taken,' it said.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Major HRT supplier sanctioned after whistleblowers raise concerns over patient safety
A major UK supplier of menopause drug HRT has been sanctioned after whistleblowers claimed patients were being put at risk, it has emerged. A group of employees from Theramex, which supplies HRT treatments to millions of patients in the UK, wrote a letter to the pharmaceutical regulator Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry over allegations the company was not following regulatory standards and may 'jeopardise' patient safety. The whistleblowers claimed some products featured inaccurate prescribing information and failed to highlight common side effects. They claimed they had been forced to contact the regulator after their attempts to raise issues internally were brushed off. The company has now admitted it breached regulatory codes, amounting to 'bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in the pharmaceutical industry', according to an interim case report from the ABPI. It also failed to maintain high standards and provide accurate and up-to-date prescribing information, the report said. Theramex is a global pharmaceutical company specialising in women's health products, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and fertility treatments. Theramex UK is its London-based arm. It supplies common HRT therapies including Evorel, Bijuve and Intrarosa. From April to June 2025, there were 760,000 prescriptions of Evorel and 2,748 prescriptions of Bijuve, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority. In 2023-24, there were 2.8 million prescriptions of Evorel. One employee wrote the complaint on behalf of a group, according to the complaint published by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, which is part of the ABPI. The complaint, filed in October 2024, said: 'We are a group of employees from various cross-functional teams at Theramex, and we are writing to express our growing concerns regarding the company's adherence to regulatory standards and the accountability of its leadership. 'While we have attempted to escalate these issues internally on numerous occasions, there has been a consistent lack of action or meaningful response, which leaves us with no choice but to seek external guidance and support.' The complaint alleged that some of Theramex's products, such as Intrarosa and Evorel, had not had their prescribing information updated. In the case of Evorel, information for health professionals was 'incomplete' and did not include information on common side effects such as uterine spasms and vaginal infection, the letter claimed. For another drug, the letter alleged that prescribing information had not been updated for five years. The complaint warned: 'This oversight can lead to healthcare professionals (HCPs) not being fully informed of potential risks, which could jeopardise patient safety.' The PMCPA panel found Theramix's 'failure to provide accurate and complete prescribing information was unacceptable'. The employees also alleged the company failed to comply with regulators for clinical trial compliance warning. 'The lack of resources within Theramex's global headquarters to ensure compliance with these standards is alarming,' it said. Finally, the letter alleged the company has a 'blame culture' that was 'deeply concerning.' In response to the complaint, Theramex UK said it took its obligations under the ABPI code of practice 'very seriously' and launched an internal investigation. It said that, although it had a process to update prescribing information, this was not sufficiently robust to ensure prescribing information was immediately updated. The pharma company acknowledged it did not meet standards concerning this allegation and admitted that, at the time of the complaint, it did not have a process in place for clinical studies. The employees' letter claimed it had tried to escalate matters to senior leaders within Theramex. The company claimed it was not aware of any of the matters having been escalated internally prior to them being reported to the regulator. As part of the sanction, Theramex must provide written confirmation that it will cease practices that breach codes, pay a charge and advertise details of the case. Theramex UK said it 'absolutely acknowledges' the recent ruling and 'respects the [regulator's] decision'. 'Of course, we remain fully committed to ensuring our practices align with the highest ethical standards and necessary steps and corrective measures have been taken,' it said.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Health
- Sky News
NHS bosses who silence whistleblowers to be banned from health service
NHS managers who silence whistleblowers will be banned from working in other senior health service roles, the government has announced. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is bringing forward a raft of proposals it says will ensure those who commit serious misconduct cannot simply work elsewhere in the NHS in senior management positions. It said legislation will be put forward to parliament next year to introduce professional standards and regulation of NHS managers. Currently, there is no regulatory framework for the tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical NHS managers, as there is for doctors and nurses. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the reforms would "slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers". Mr Streeting added: "I'm determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected, and that demands tough enforcement. "If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again. "We've got to create the conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong. Protecting the reputation of the NHS should never be put before protecting patient safety. "Most NHS leaders are doing a fantastic job, but we need to stop the revolving door that allows managers sacked for misconduct or incompetence to be quietly moved to another well-paid role in another part of the NHS." 3:03 DHSC said a public consultation launched last November received more than 4,900 contributions on ways managers and leaders could be regulated. The system to bar NHS managers will apply to board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies. Further laws will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Councils to disbar senior NHS leaders who have committed serious misconduct. Professional standards for NHS England managers will be separately set out to establish a "consistent, national set of expectations about NHS management and leadership competency and conduct", DHSC said. Earlier this year, the government announced it is abolishing NHS England, the body that oversees the budget, planning and delivery of healthcare, but this will take two years.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior roles
NHS managers who silence whistleblowers will be banned from taking up other senior health service roles, the Government has announced. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the proposals will ensure those who commit serious misconduct are no longer able to work in senior NHS management positions. Legislation is set to be put forward to Parliament next year to introduce professional standards and regulation of NHS managers. Tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work in the NHS but there is currently no regulatory framework specifically for managers, as there is for doctors and nurses. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said the reforms will 'slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers'. Mr Streeting added: 'I'm determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected, and that demands tough enforcement. 'If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again. 'We've got to create the conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong. Protecting the reputation of the NHS should never be put before protecting patient safety. 'Most NHS leaders are doing a fantastic job, but we need to stop the revolving door that allows managers sacked for misconduct or incompetence to be quietly moved to another well-paid role in another part of the NHS.' DHSC said a public consultation launched in November last year received more than 4,900 contributions on ways in which managers and leaders could be regulated. The statutory barring system will be for board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies. Further legislation will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Council to disbar NHS leaders in senior roles who have committed serious misconduct. DHSC said separate NHS England professional standards for managers will establish a 'consistent, national set of expectations about NHS management and leadership competency and conduct'. Positive move to weed out poor leadership Tom Kark KC, the author of the Kark Review into the effectiveness of the fit and proper person test within the NHS, said: 'I am pleased that the recommendation made in my report into the application of the NHS fit and proper person test to create a power to disqualify board directors found guilty of serious misconduct is being implemented. 'Along with the ongoing implementation of my other recommendations for improving board competence, this is a positive move to strengthen management in the NHS by weeding out poor leadership. 'This is good news for whistleblowers and those looking for accountability in senior management which has long been lacking.'
