Is my husband ruining our turkey? Need help ASAP, please!!?

My husband just got our frozen turkey and he wants to soak it in a brine. Before soaking it in the brine, he says that he needs to thaw it out in 4 hours or so. SO, he has it in the roasting pan, in the oven, wrapper still on the turkey, at 170 degrees!!!! I am concerned that this will ruin the turkey and possibly make us sick. He says not to worry about, it will be fine, and won't ruin the turkey, etc. Who is right?