Medtronic's doc payments draw new fire

Careful with that checkbook, Medtronic. Sen. Charles Grassley--who's been investigating financial ties between doctors and drug/device companies--is asking the device maker for info on any payments it's made to doctors since it paid $40 million to settle a kickback case last year.

Medtronic says it's only written legitimate checks for legitimate consulting work on device development. Several doctors have reaped six-figure payments in recent months. The person who flagged these payments for the Senate is also a lawyer representing the kickback whistleblower, who filed an additional complaint against Medtronic in early 2006.

- see this The Pioneer Press article for more 

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