View source for Press Release-I-00-052, NRC Proposes $5,500 Fine for Philadelphia VA Medical Center for Violation Involving Treatment of Whistleblower

{{Adams
| number = ML003734439
| issue date = 07/21/2000
| title = Press Release-I-00-052: NRC Proposes $5,500 Fine for Philadelphia VA Medical Center for Violation Involving Treatment of Whistleblower
| author name = 
| author affiliation = NRC/OPA/RGN-I/FO
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
| docket = 
| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = Press Release-I-00-52
| document type = Press Release
| page count = 1
| newsletter region = NRC Region I
| newsletter year = 2000
| newsletter integer = 52
}}

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{{#Wiki_filter:NRCNEWSU.S.NUCLEARREGULATORYCOMMISSIONOFFICEOFPUBLICAFFAIRS,REGIONI475AllendaleRoadKingofPrussia,PA19406No.I-00-52July21,2000CONTACT:DianeScrenci(610)337-5330/e-mail:dps@nrc.govNeilA.Sheehan(610)337-5331/e-mail:nas@nrc.govNRCPROPOSES$5,500FINEFORPHILADELPHIAVAMEDICALCENTERFORVIOLATIONINVOLVINGTREATMENTOFWHISTLEBLOWERTheNuclearRegulatoryCommissionhasproposeda$5,500fineagainsttheU.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairsMedicalCenter,Philadelphia,foraviolationofagencyrequirementsinvolvingthe treatmentofaworkerwhoraisedsafetyconcerns.TheactionisbasedonthefindingsoftheU.S.Merit SystemsProtectionBoard,whichruledthatthecenterdiscriminatedagainsttheresearchnursebecause ofheractivities.BetweenApril1997andMay1998,theemployeewassubjectedtoahostileworkenvironmentforengaginginwhistleblowing,afederallyprotectedactivity,theNRCdetermined.Specifically,the NRCfoundthatthenurse,whonolongerworksatthefacility,wasisolatedbyhersupervisorand experiencedsignificantnegativechangestoherworkingconditionsaftersheraisedissuesregarding theadequacyofconsentformssignedbyparticipantsinaresearchstudy.Amongthechangeswere threatsofdismissal,exclusionfromworkdiscussionsandunfoundedaccusationsofcriminalactivity.TheworkerapproachedtheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministrationwithherconcernsinApril1997andtheNRCinJune1997.ThecasewasalsoconsideredbytheMeritSystemsProtectionBoard,whichissueditsdecisiononApril16,1999.Whiletheboarddidnotfinddiscriminationhadoccurredwithrespecttomostof thespecificincidentsraisedbythenurse,itdidconcludethatdiscriminationoccurredwhenthe individualwassubjectedtointolerableworkingconditionsandwhenshewasterminatedpriortothe expirationofhertermemployment.VAofficialsarerequiredtorespondtotheNoticeofViolationwithin30days.
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