let me tell you, the "confidential" ethics hotline is a bunch of crap - DO NOT CALL THEM - don't even bother - call the FDA directly
Very common misconception! The Ethics Line and Ombudsman work for MERCK not you! If you have anything of substance to report it's best to take it out of the company - a lawyer, an agency, a shrink - unless you have a rock solid paper trail BEFORE reporting the issues so you can come back and sue them as a wrongly dismissed Whistleblower later. There is very, very little that goes on in this company that is not known by some level of management. The only time the right heads roll for the wrong doing is when another manager tells someone who can gain from the 1st bad actor's dismissal. If you don't think they can turn around on a good employee pointing out an obvious problem you'll be the next one to start a thread like this one. Oh, and confidentiality is NEVER a guarantee unless you never reveal your identity. They will 'do their best' to protect your privacy but it virtually never happens.
I've got money on the fact that the OP is probably a disgruntled loser with a pink slip that finally got called out on being a slacker.