Stanley Adams (whistleblower)

Stanley Adams was a notable whistleblower who exposed unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry. He was an employee of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche when he discovered the company's illegal price fixing activities.

Early Life and Career

Stanley Adams was born in Malta in 1940. He moved to Switzerland in the 1960s, where he began his career in the pharmaceutical industry. He joined Hoffmann-La Roche in 1969, where he worked as a product manager.

Whistleblowing

In 1973, Adams discovered that Hoffmann-La Roche was involved in illegal price fixing. The company was manipulating the prices of vitamins and other pharmaceutical products to maintain a monopoly in the market. Adams reported this to the European Commission, which led to a major investigation into the company's practices.

Aftermath

The whistleblowing had severe consequences for Adams. He was arrested by Swiss authorities and spent a year in prison. His wife, Cynthia Adams, committed suicide, and he was ostracized by the pharmaceutical industry. Despite these hardships, Adams continued to speak out against corporate wrongdoing.

Legacy

Stanley Adams' case brought significant attention to the issue of corporate whistleblowing. It led to changes in European law to better protect whistleblowers, and it highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry.

See Also

• Whistleblower
• Hoffmann-La Roche
• Pharmaceutical industry
• European Commission