The Patrick administration has demanded that Sophia Pasedis, lead pharmacist of a sister company to the Framingham pharmacy at the center of the national meningitis outbreak, resign from the state board that oversees pharmacies, saying board minutes “call into question” whether she recused herself from matters concerning both companies.
State health officials said at a Sunday news conference that Pasedis has refused to step down.
Comments
Unannounced inspections of compounding pharmacies, recently demanded by Gov. Patrick, are likely to find more incidents of poor sanitation, often seen in FDA inspections of manufacturers. Increased surveillance during the Obama administration is an indirect element in the recent fungal meningitis disaster. Sandoz and Teva had been producing the preservative-free injectible drug. However, at least one of them has had to shut down a facility for remediation, after contamination was found. Prioritizing use of resources apparently led to discontinuing a relatively low-priority product, creating an opportunity for compounding pharmacies. The state's new annual inspections will help only a little, because sanitation problems can develop almost overnight. There are also few signs of increased efforts in other states, so patients remain at risk from loosely regulated interstate commerce.
If the sole role of unannounced inspections were to check conditions then, yes, they would help just a little. But if the reality of unannounced inspections cause compounding pharmacies to take more notice of conditions or to act, or to act more quickly, to remediate discovered problems then then result will be more effective local oversight and control. I agree that compounding pharmaries should be federally, not state, regulated to ensure effectiveness and consistency of oversight.
Can this state of MA do anything right? The level of corruption and incompetence is so ingrained in the system nothing surprises me anymore. However this time instead of just stealing the taxpayers money or hiring their friends and family people died.
This comment has been removed.
@jedi "Republican" appointed inspectors? Did you just move here, like Liz Warren? This entire STATE is infested with liberal democrats (and their relatives). WAKE UP WILL YOU?
So, this bonehead was appointed by Romney! Talk about deregulation!!!
This comment has been removed.
We can sleep well tonight knowing that the MA Dept of Public Health is watching over us. (I'm kidding of course!)
The regulator and regulated are consistently one in the same in MA. If the Governor embraces the principle that those writing the prescriptions should not police those writing prescriptions-let's also apply this safeguard to renewable energy companies. Public Officials writing policy that mandates renewable goods and services they offer as the Directors, Advisors, Presidents, CEOs, founders, co-founders and stock holders in renewable companies, is what undermines the interests of citizens' funding these failing green business ventures. Public merit and public safety have taken a back seat to crony capitalism, corporate welfare and politics in MA. And the public is paying the price.
This is common practice all over this great land of ours and has been for many generations. Doctors judge doctors, lawyers judge lawyers, hairdressers judge hairdressers, etc., etc.
In some states it's much worse then here. At least we have, for instance, the Board of Bar Overseers, not completely disinterested, but better than the state bar association that's in chage in many states.
If Pasedis is refusing to resign, then we should be offered a very public explanation by her as to WHY it is appropriate for her to retain her post--short-term though it may be. Do NONE of these appointed state officials have ANY obligation to represent their service to the public? Guess not. We hear, "No comment" from the their attorneys or they can point a finger (eg, "the rogue chemist did it!"), quietly resigning and taking refuge in cozy folds of ex-poiticians/public figures. Point is: people have DIED or been severely injured because of incompetent systems run by incompetent (various reasons), even malevolent people.
This comment has been removed.
What a disgrace! Here we go again. Another case of conflict of interest, just who is running the show, and we seem never to have the proper checks, balances, oversight, accountabiities, etc. Most of our statte agencies and the pols who run are a sham! Enough alreday!
Read the story bosrecruiter. When she was working at Mass Eye and Ear when she was appointed to the board and that was no conflict of interest. The conflict occurred when she took a job with Ameridose. Apparently Ameridose wanted to own someone on the board, so they bought her. hah.
And now to compound the problem, she refuses to resign. She's low-life, but you never know until they reveal themselves. I'm sure Romney considered her a legitimate candidate for the appointment.
The entire BOP should resign. Their incompetence is startling. Their disregard for public safety is disgusting. They are an embarrassment to the state and to the profession. They should be held responsible for every innocent patient that dies as a result of this debacle.