The Food and Drug Administration asked a whistleblower, drug safety expert Dr. David Graham, to leave his position and move elsewhere in the agency, according to Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI).

In a letter to the FDA Acting Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, Rep. Stupak and 21 congressional members have demanded assurance Dr. Graham will keep his job. The members also asked the Commissioner that he investigate the smear campaign conducted by some within the agency against Dr. Graham.

Dr. Graham, a 20-year veteran at the FDA, recently testified before the Senate Fiance Committee about FDA oversight on certain prescription drugs, such as Vioxx.

In his testimony, Dr. Graham said the agency would be unable to protect the country from another Vioxx case.

“I would argue that the FDA, as currently configured, is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx,” Dr. Graham said.

In addition, the Committee asked Dr. Graham, based on his expertise, if there were any other drugs that should be pulled from the market. Graham named five: the acne drug, Accutane; the weight loss drug, Meridia; the anti-cholesterol drug, Crestor; the pain reliever Bextra; and the asthma drug, Serevent.

The letter also stated that the treatment of Graham will have a chilling effect on FDA employees to speak up and disagree when they believe the public’s health is at risk.

(via Congressman Bart Stupak)