Fredrickson 23 Sept 78 
- 4 - 
In February 1977, I said "What do the Guidelines say about 
'ensuring that research is carried out in accordance with the standards 
and procedures under the OSHA Act. This is an area of importance to 
local institutions but need not be included as a requirement in 
the Guidelines I, (Fredrickson) would also encourage all institutions 
to review their insurance compensation programs to determine whether 
their lab personnel 1 in the research area are covered for injuries." 
"Importance is acknowledged, the existence of Federal and state 
laws is recognized, but despite suggestions to the contrary, they do 
not ask for compliance. We have been told repeatedly by Dr. Hogness and 
others that there is no real or significant risk. If that be true, then 
why waste valuable monies on insurance policies? Do you get informed 
consent from your laboraotry workers when they come on the job? 
Do you tell your technicians that even though you may think there is 
no risk, that nevertheless the NIH guidelines have urged you to make 
sure that there is enough insurance coverage "just in case"? You can 
depreciated your lab equiptment. You can, as it is said, "cost it out". 
But please, gentlemen, dont depreciate human life or cost out human 
suffering by the expedience of buying and insurance policy". 
There have been developments in this area since my statement 
of 18 months ago. But without going into detail I think that they can 
be safely characterized as tentative , preliminary and inadequate. 
4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST 
This is an area of constant concern to you in all aspects of 
research supported by NIH. It is certainly not new. In February 1977, 
I stated: 
" One can hardly argue with a scientist who is solely on the 
search for truth. But if a u-niversity scientist wants to get into the 
commercialization of recombinant research, then he cannot, at the same 
time, sit on committees which set the rules and give out the money for 
such research. A standard for conflict of interest should apply to all 
those who earn handsome consultant fees or who have invested their own 
monies in such commercial enterprises - and this includes everyone 
even Nobel laureates. This subject requires nothing less than full and 
complete disclosure of all outside connections. But nowhere in the 
Guidelines or in the deliberations of this panel has this important 
ethical question been addressed" 
It is now September, 1978. From what I have read, the situation 
has remained unchanged. If I am wrong or ill-informed, I would greatly 
appreciate being corrected. 
[A-306] 
