Annie Dookhan: Finally, someone in the media gets it right: "Accreditation can’t prevent every problem. If drug lab employees see themselves as crime fighters as opposed to objective practitioners of science, these problems will continue." Editorial; WCVB; (Boston);

EDITORIAL: "Drug testing in state labs," published by WCVB on March 19, 2014.  (WCVB-TV is an  ABC-affiliated television station located in Boston);

GIST:  "Criminal drug testing is now performed at the State Police Crime Lab in Sudbury.   Lt. Col. Frank Matthews assured all, "What happened with Annie Dookhan will not happen again." Forgive us if we’re still somewhat skeptical.   Dookhan’s close relationship to the prosecution is where the problem began.  Cases in North Carolina, New York, West Virginia and Oklahoma show conflicts of interest occur in drug testing facilities and crime labs across the country.  Accreditation can’t prevent every problem. If drug lab employees see themselves as crime fighters as opposed to objective practitioners of science, these problems will continue.  Massachusetts has a chance to get this right.  We need robust and consistent oversight of an independent drug lab."

The entire editorial can be found at:WCVB;

•  http://www.wcvb.com/tv/editorials/march-7-2014-drug-testing-in-state-labs/25053148#!ABU6I
  
  PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 
  Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
   
  I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.
  
  The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
  
  http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
  
  Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
   
  http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
   
  I look forward to hearing from readers at:
  
  hlevy15@gmail.com.
  
  Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;