i have only had access to the information about the allegations made against terry vertmillion. i have known terry for many years having come from a similar background having joined a newly formed uk government criminal investigation department (established around the same time at the us fda oci and serving the same purpose). i can say without fear of contradiction that in the world of pharmaceutical crime prevention and detection terry vermillion was highly regarded by the international law enforcement agencies engaged in this service throughout the world. he set a standard that was second to none and was a bench mark for others to follow. he was instrumental in advising and organising an international forum of investigating agencies dealing with pharmaceutical crime. his efforts were responsible for the reduction in counterfeiting, diverting and the misuse of out of date medicines in every country where pharmaceuticals are marketed. he was no less responsible for ensuring the curtailment of contaminated medicines intended for the third world. in the slightly less time than twenty years terry vermillion used that time to create a safer world for all of us because at some time we all need to take medicine and by his efforts and those like him the pharmaceutical world is much safer. rather than pillory this man he should have been rewarded by his government. i am sure that there are many senior and ex senior officers of the world of pharmaceutical security would salute terry vermillion.

If the FDA and GAO can't police their own departments, how can they be expected to produce factual information regarding the abuse and misuse of certain opiod pain killers? The FDA has recently banned or tightened controls on numerous opiods based on abuse and scientific information. These pain killers are a necessity to those who live their lives in chronic pain. I have yet to find any research as to the number of abuse cases as compared to the number of honest chroniic pain users. Maybe, if the FDA spent a little more time ivestigating and policeing their own department they wouldnt be so quick to ban much needed pain killers. Avoiding sarcasm, I would be interested in knowing how many other OCI employee's do their jobs primarily over the phone, or in the same way as Mr. Vermillion.