AP reports that in a new twist, the FDA is starting to hold health executives personally responsible for the malfeasance of the corporations they run.
The gist of the story is that the FDA was tired of repeat offenders simply paying a fine and then going back to business as usual. So they have begun holding senior executives personally responsible, and threatened some with a lifetime bar from future government payments.
The lawyers aren't happy:
"If the government does continue to press its campaign against individuals, we will see the limits of the government's theories tested," said Paul Kalb, who heads the health care group at the law firm of Sidley Austin in Washington. "In my mind, there is a very important open question as to whether individuals can be held criminally culpable or lose their jobs simply by virtue of their status."
I can hardly wait.
Is it possible we're beginning to see corporations actually held responsible for lying, cheating, ruining the environment, and killing employees?