Max
10-03-2001, 02:53 PM
3 accused of ethics violations in grant votes
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
By RANDY DIAMOND
Trenton Bureau
Two prominent doctors and a scientist affiliated with some of New Jersey's top hospitals and research institutes have been accused of violating state ethics rules because they voted for state grants for their employers.
One of the doctors, Joel DeLisa, the president and chief executive officer of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange and the chairman of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, voted to approve grants for both his employers at a May 16 meeting of the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research.
DeLisa is one of 11 non-paid members of the commission, which was formed by the state Legislature in 1999, to distribute state aid and other grants for research into the treatment and cure of spinal cord injuries.
The second physician, Peter Carmel, a neurosurgeon at UMDNJ, and the third person charged, Patricia Morton, a researcher at the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers University, also voted at the May 16 meeting to approve grants for their institutions.
Rita Strmensky, executive director of the state Commission on Ethical Standards, said all three voted to approve the grants, even though they were warned in writing in April that they could not vote on research grants for their institutions without violating ethics rules.
Strmensky said she also warned members orally in December 2000 and March 2001 that voting for grants for their employers would amount to a violation of the state's conflicts law.
None of those charged returned phone calls seeking comment, and it is unclear why they ignored Strmensky's oral and written directives. Strmensky said commission members requested both the oral and written opinions from her.
The state's complaint accuses DeLisa of voting to approve five separate grants at the May 16 meeting, two for the University of the Medicine and Dentistry totaling $392,000 and three for Kessler, amounting to almost $400,000. DeLisa was also actively involved in discussion of the grants, the state charges.
Under state ethics rules, DeLisa faces fines of up to $2,500.
The nationally known Kessler Institute, considered New Jersey's top rehabilitation hospital, is where movie star Christopher Reeves received his initial treatment for his spinal cord injury.
Carmel was accused of voting to award two grants totaling $392,000 to UMDNJ, and Morton was accused of voting to award five grants to Rutgers University totaling over $740,000.
John C. Ekarius, vice president of public affairs for UDMNJ, said the medical school was aware of the charges against DeLisa and Carmel.
"Both Doctors DeLisa and Carmel are distinguished faculty members renowned in their respective fields," he said. "They have retained independent counsel and are working diligently to address the commission's concerns."
Michael Breton, associate vice president for research and sponsored programs at Rutgers University, said in a statement that the university is aware of the charges.
"Dr. Morton is currently in conversation with the appropriate state officials in the interest of seeking a mutually agreeable resolution," he said. "While this process is under way, further comment from the university would not be appropriate."
The Spinal Cord Research Council unanimously approved all the research grants. But those familiar with the board's operations say the board would not have had the necessary six-member quorum to approve some of the research grants if DeLisa, Carmel, and Morton had abstained from voting. Copies of the minutes of the May 16 meeting were unavailable Tuesday.
Strmensky said DeLisa, Carmel, and Morton have 30 days to respond to the ethics charges and can contest the charges before a state administrative law judge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trenton Bureau Correspondent Randy Diamond's e-mail address is diamond@northjersey.com
__________________________________________________ __
Maksim (Max) Bily
mail to : imax@odyssee.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/index.html for best sci research info on Web
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Wednesday, October 3, 2001
By RANDY DIAMOND
Trenton Bureau
Two prominent doctors and a scientist affiliated with some of New Jersey's top hospitals and research institutes have been accused of violating state ethics rules because they voted for state grants for their employers.
One of the doctors, Joel DeLisa, the president and chief executive officer of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange and the chairman of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, voted to approve grants for both his employers at a May 16 meeting of the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research.
DeLisa is one of 11 non-paid members of the commission, which was formed by the state Legislature in 1999, to distribute state aid and other grants for research into the treatment and cure of spinal cord injuries.
The second physician, Peter Carmel, a neurosurgeon at UMDNJ, and the third person charged, Patricia Morton, a researcher at the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers University, also voted at the May 16 meeting to approve grants for their institutions.
Rita Strmensky, executive director of the state Commission on Ethical Standards, said all three voted to approve the grants, even though they were warned in writing in April that they could not vote on research grants for their institutions without violating ethics rules.
Strmensky said she also warned members orally in December 2000 and March 2001 that voting for grants for their employers would amount to a violation of the state's conflicts law.
None of those charged returned phone calls seeking comment, and it is unclear why they ignored Strmensky's oral and written directives. Strmensky said commission members requested both the oral and written opinions from her.
The state's complaint accuses DeLisa of voting to approve five separate grants at the May 16 meeting, two for the University of the Medicine and Dentistry totaling $392,000 and three for Kessler, amounting to almost $400,000. DeLisa was also actively involved in discussion of the grants, the state charges.
Under state ethics rules, DeLisa faces fines of up to $2,500.
The nationally known Kessler Institute, considered New Jersey's top rehabilitation hospital, is where movie star Christopher Reeves received his initial treatment for his spinal cord injury.
Carmel was accused of voting to award two grants totaling $392,000 to UMDNJ, and Morton was accused of voting to award five grants to Rutgers University totaling over $740,000.
John C. Ekarius, vice president of public affairs for UDMNJ, said the medical school was aware of the charges against DeLisa and Carmel.
"Both Doctors DeLisa and Carmel are distinguished faculty members renowned in their respective fields," he said. "They have retained independent counsel and are working diligently to address the commission's concerns."
Michael Breton, associate vice president for research and sponsored programs at Rutgers University, said in a statement that the university is aware of the charges.
"Dr. Morton is currently in conversation with the appropriate state officials in the interest of seeking a mutually agreeable resolution," he said. "While this process is under way, further comment from the university would not be appropriate."
The Spinal Cord Research Council unanimously approved all the research grants. But those familiar with the board's operations say the board would not have had the necessary six-member quorum to approve some of the research grants if DeLisa, Carmel, and Morton had abstained from voting. Copies of the minutes of the May 16 meeting were unavailable Tuesday.
Strmensky said DeLisa, Carmel, and Morton have 30 days to respond to the ethics charges and can contest the charges before a state administrative law judge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trenton Bureau Correspondent Randy Diamond's e-mail address is diamond@northjersey.com
__________________________________________________ __
Maksim (Max) Bily
mail to : imax@odyssee.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/index.html for best sci research info on Web
www.thinkwave.com (http://www.thinkwave.com) -Where Teachers, Students and Parents Communicate
Play International Red Cross Lottery online
for weekly jackpot of 20.000.000 Swiss Franks tax free...
http://www.pluslotto.com/default.asp?urlref=3300003298889>
<A HREF="http://www.pluslotto.com/default.asp?urlref=3300003298889" TARGET=_blank>
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